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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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LOUISA: 



A PASTOR'S MEMORIAL, 



WILLIAM J. R TAYLOR, D.D. 






PHILADELPHIA : 
AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 

1122 Che?t>tt Street. 



NEW YORK: 509 BROADWAY 



a-9 ; 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by 

THE AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States 

for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



z x z. 2~ r 



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PREFACE. 



This memorial is a simple record of the 
way by which God led his dear child not 
only "into green pastures" and "by the 
still waters," but also into fields of labour 
which demanded heroic faith and patience 
unto the end. She loved to dcLher Father's 
will, and she did it with a " zeal" that was 
"according to knowledge." She loved to 
suffer that "sweet will of God," and her 
suffering turned to triumph. 

That the great Head of the Church will 

glorify himself by this little book, as he 

did by the life and death of its subject, is 

the sincere prayer of one who feels that it 

was an honour to have been the pastor, as 

he is now the biographer, of this enthroned 

believer. 

W. J. R. T. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Birth— Lineage— The Old Minister— The Faithful- 
ness of God t 



CHAPTER II. 

Childhood — Education — Character — Dr. Bedell's 
Sabbath- School — Early Religious Impressions — 
Profession of Faith i 13 



CHAPTER III. 

Her Active Religious Life — Its Principle and Modes 
of Usefulness — A Sabbath-School Teacher — Secret 
of her Success — The Bible-Class — Love and Devo- 
tion to it — A Tract-Distributor — Visitor of the 
Bible Society — Extracts from her Reports — Walks 
among the Poor — The German Family — The Young 
Couple — The Woman in the Old Garret — The 
Miserable Shanty — The Infidel Cripple — Testi- 
mony of a City Missionary 17 

1* 5 



6 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IV. 

PAGE 

Philadelphia Charities — A Christmas Scene among 
the degraded and outcast Poor — The Mission- 
Houses and their Christmas Sabbath-School Cele- 
brations — "The Ladies^ Union City Mission" — Its 
Origin — The Wretched Family — Children under the 
Ashes — Plan of the Mission— Agencies — Change 
of Place and Operations in 1858 — Louisa's Activity 
in this Field — Pen-Pictures from her Annual Re- 
ports — Thrilling Scenes — Successes — The Little 
Girl— The Dying Boy— The "Grim Monster"— 
"The Little Sunbeams" — Earnest Appeals — The 
Last Report — Graphic Account — A "Visiting 
Round" — The Honest Boys — Discouragements — 
A Warm Plea 29 



CHAPTER V. 

The New Sunday-School — Strange Scenes on the first 
Sabbath — Success of the Enterprise — Louisa's Un- 
tiring Interest in this Effort — Testimony of a Fel- 
low-Labourer — Moral Heroism — The Great Social 
and Civic Problem — Homes and Missions for the 
Children — Contrasts — Scene in a Court-Room — 
The Power of Christian Love — The Great Reward... 50 



CHAPTER VI. 

Correspondence — Dr. Alexander's Views of Letter- 
Writing — The Proper Standard — Extracts — The 
Last Day of Summer — Holiday Scenes — The Crys- 
tal Palace — The Fair and Festival for the Mission 
—Death of John C— The Funeral 63 



CONTENTS. 7 

CHAPTER VII. 

PAGE 

Domestic Sorrows — Death of her Mother — Three 
other Bereavements — Louisa's Illness — Declining 
Health — Thoughts on her Mother's Decease — Home 
Trials — The New Year — Sabbath-School Labours 
— "The Circus Girl" and her Sick Sister — Pastoral 
Interviews with the Sister — The Dawning Light — 
The Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness — The Death 
of the Invalid — Funeral Scene — Louisa's Agency 
in this Case— The Crisis of 1857— The Financial 
Crash — Sufferings of the Poor 74 

CHAPTER VIII. 

"The Great Awakening" — Descriptions of the Noon 
Prayer-Meetings, and other Scenes of the Revival 
— Increasing Weakness — Personal Experiences — 
Letter of Sympathy — More of the Revival — The 
Last Day of 1858 88 

CHAPTER IX. 

Moral Courage — Tests — Correspondence with a Skep- 
tical Relative — Tact and Earnestness with which 
she pressed her Suit — The "Threefold Cord" — 
Arguments and Appeals — The Last Leaf — Death of 
her Correspondent — The Lesson 98 

CHAPTER X. 

Selections from her latest Letters — The Journey 
Homeward — "Rest, rest!" — Perfect Peace — The 
Opening of Spring — The Heavenly Home — A New 
Trial 108 



CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER XI. 



PAGE 



The Diary — "Daily FoocT' Texts— "When shall I be 
there?"— The Last New Year's Day on Earth — 
The Eagle on the Cliff — Eternity — A Sabbath at 
Home — "Very near Home" 116 

CHAPTER XII. 

The Last of Earth— The Bible and the Flowers— The 
Sick Friend — Baptism of the Invalid, and her 
Death — Louisa's Departure — A Scene of Triumph 
— The Conqueror's Song — The Burial — The Next 
Sabbath— "The Night of the Grave"— "No Night 
there" — The Glory of Grace — Lines on her Death.. 122 



LOUISA. 



CHAPTEE I. 



Louisa was born at Philadelphia on the 19th 
day of October, in the year 1820. Her father 
has been for many years a physician in full 
practice, and her mother — now deceased — was 
also of a highly respectable and religious fa- 
mily of that city. While, in this country, the 
mere pride of ancestry is justly rebuked by the 
very nature of our institutions and by the cha- 
racter of the people, no one would dare despise 
the blessing of an honoured parentage. The 
Bible itself must be outlawed from the hearts 
and homes of those who would not join the 
sainted Cowper in his touching lines written 
on the receipt of his mother's picture : — 

" My boast is not that I deduce my birth 
From loins enthroned, and rulers of the earth ; 
But higher far my proud pretensions rise, — 
The child of parents past into the skies ! " 



10 louisa : 

With similar feelings the subject of this me- 
moir used to revert to her title of nobility. Her 
mother went home before her. Her father has 
for nearly half a century been identified with 
the Church of Christ as a private member, and, 
at several periods, as an officer. Her paternal 
grandfather deserves especial notice here, if for 
no other reason, to prove the faithfulness of 
God to his covenant with his people and their 
children. He was a venerable clergyman of 
the Eeformed Protestant Dutch Church in this 
country. Born at Waldorf, in Germany, in 
1750, and classically educated at the University 
of Heidelberg, he pursued his theological 
studies at the University of Utrecht, in Hol- 
land, where he was also licensed to preach the 
gospel in 1770. In 1771 he emigrated to this 
country, and served in the ministry in Penn- 
sylvania about the space of three years. In 
1774 he accepted a call to become the pastor 
of the German Eeformed Church in New York 
City, and in 1776 he assumed the charge of the 
Eeformed Dutch Church in Claverack, near the 
present city of Hudson, Columbia county, in 
the State of New York. There he continued 



a pastor's memorial. 11 

his ministry until his death, on the 16th day of 
August, 1826. He was in the seventy-seventh 
year of his age, and had served in the ministry 
fifty-six years. 

It is a pleasant office to revive the memories 
of the old veterans who, like Mr. G., left their 
own country during the last and previous cen- 
turies to plant the gospel and the Church of 
Christ in this then wilderness land. Eich in 
the culture of the schools, profoundly versed 
in theology, of refined manners and deep piety, 
they magnified their office by a noble service, 
and left as their best legacies to the Church and 
the world "the works" that "follow them," 
and the names that they adorned with the 
lustre of Christian graces. 

This aged servant of God not only gave him- 
self to his official work with zealous perseve- 
rance, but, soon after his settlement in Clave- 
rack, was the main instrument in securing the 
foundation of a noble institution of learning, 
known as the Washington Academy, — a semi- 
nary in which some of the most distinguished 
men in the State received their early education. 
In this Mr. G. only followed the example of 



12 louisa: 

many others of the old Holland clergy, who 
brought with them to this country their love 
of liberty, of faith and of solid learning, — prin- 
ciples which have especially marked the ancient 
Church of which they were the pioneers. 

The grace of God has followed the descend- 
ants of this venerable minister with peculiar 
favour to the latest generation. Children's 
" children rise up and call him blessed," and 
attest by their piety the preciousness and 
power of the family covenant. 



a pastor's memorial. 13 



CHAPTEE II. 

There was nothing very remarkable in the 
early childhood of Louisa. It is probable that 
any one who knew her in mature life could see 
at once what kind of a child she had been, for 
the lapse of years had not robbed her of the 
simplicity and exuberant gayety of her natural 
temperament. She was full of life, sanguine, 
nervous, very impressible, decided and ener- 
getic. She did every thing with zeal. Her 
• early compositions, written under the surveil- 
lance of a teacher's critical eye, evince a mind 
of considerable maturity, acute in its percep- 
tion, strong in convictions; and with this there 
was a degree of moral courage not always seen 
in gifted youth. The subjects she selected were 
generally of a high moral or religious nature, 
and the method of treatment was calculated to 
bring out the substantial influence of her Chris- 
tian training and tendencies. Conscientious- 
ness was certainly one of her most decided 



14 louisa : 

traits. It was seen in every thing, — at home, in 
school, in her compositions and correspondence; 
and it grew upon her until she left us. 

Residing in the city which had the honour 
of giving birth to the American Sunday -School 
Union, and even to that still older organization, 
11 The Philadelphia First-Day or Sabbath-School 
Society/' of which good Bishop White was the 
first president, for many years, Louisa was, of 
course, a Sabbath-school scholar. During a 
part of her childhood, although she was con- 
nected with another denomination of Chris- 
tians, she was for some years, on account of 
the convenience of her residence, a member of 
the Sabbath-school of Saint Andrew's Protes- 
tant Episcopal Church. There, under the 
teachings of pious instructors, and probably 
not less through the influence of the late Eev. 
Dr. Bedell, the rector of the church, who loved 
his Sabbath-school, she was deeply affected 
with a sense of her religious interests. At least 
this must be regarded as a step in the history 
of her hopeful spiritual change. 

Of the nature and process of her early reli- 
gious life, the writer of this memoir has no re- 



a pastor's memorial. 15 

cord. Probably there was nothing about it that 
differed from the ordinary exercises of thousands 
who are in similar circumstances. From the 
statements of the family it is believed that it 
was not a sudden revolution, but a gradual pro- 
gress of religious convictions, desires, hopes 
and fears, until at last "the spirit of adoption" 
was given her, " whereby she cried, Abba, Fa- 
ther," and that "spirit also witnessed with her 
spirit" that she was indeed "a child of God." 

On the 11th day of April, 1839, with twenty 
others, some of whom were as young as her- 
self, and a number of them her companions, she 
united herself, by confession of her faith in the 
Lord Jesus Christ, to the Third Eeformed 
Dutch Church of Philadelphia, of which the late 
Eev. George W. Bethune, D.D., was then the pas- 
tor. From that time a new era in her life began. 
Born unto God in a season of gracious revival, 
her Christian career was a continuous mani- 
festation of the power of the same " quickening 
Spirit" which at once blessed a whole church 
with its regenerating and sanctifying energies. 
It is safe to add, that of all who were then 
joined to the same communion, whether " they 



16 louisa : 

sleep in Jesus " or are still alive, none shone 
with a brighter radiance than Louisa. She 
"was a burning" as well as "a shining light/' 
and she did " let her light so shine, that men 
seeing her good works glorified her Father 
which is in heaven." The sequel will show that 
she was an active Christian, and her correspond- 
ence and diary will reveal the hidden source 
from which she drew the supplies for her daily 
service of God. 



a pastor's memorial. I 17 



CHAPTEE III. 

In this chapter we propose to review what 
we may well term the active religious life of 
Louisa. When she gave herself to Christ, it 
was like a " whole burnt offering." Seldom has 
the author known a better illustration of the 
spirit of the apostle's injunction, "I beseech 
you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, 
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your rea- 
sonable service." (Eom. xii. 1.) Eeligion was 
to her " a reasonable service," — the highest rea- 
son for the best service; and she "presented" 
her body — her w T hole self, her body and the 
soul that dwelt in that " temple of the Holy 
Ghost" — "a living sacrifice;" not a dead holo- 
caust, but a spiritual life-sacrifice which was 
" holy, acceptable unto God." 

How did she do this ? By " doing whatso- 
ever her hand found to do with all her might." 
Her work was at her feet, and in her own circle. 



18 * louisa : 

She despised that false philanthropy which 
longs for a distant and mighty effort, while 
neglecting the calls of daily and humble life, 
which cannot secure its lofty help. She became 
a Sabbath-school teacher. In Jhis sphere of 
chosen duty she was assiduous, intelligent, pa- 
tient and ingenious. Aiming at a high standard 
of instruction, she prepared herself thoroughly, 
and required of her class ample study and ac- 
curate recitation. When I knew her in this 
sphere of labour, her class was composed of the 
largest girls of the school. It was almost 
always full, for the teacher was sure to be in 
her place, unless Providence prevented, and 
they were too glad to meet her to be absent 
for light reasons. She was a model of punc- 
tuality, diligence and genuine devotion to this 
fruitful work; and very fruitful it was under 
such generous culture. ]STo teacher of the 
author's Sunday-school has ever brought him 
so many scholars, each saying, " Sir, I would 
see Jesus." Nor was there another to whose 
discreet counsels and persevering faithfulness 
the pastor could more readily intrust the lambs 
of the flock. 



A pastor's memorial. 19 

The grand secret of her success was this : — 
she loved her work, — loved her class, every one 
of thera, — loved her Saviour; and she was not 
satisfied until she saw one after another also 
loving that dear Saviour. It was a Bible-class, 
and she made it such in earnest. Witness these 
passages from familiar letters to an absent re- 
lative, written after the disease had set in 
which afterwards ended her life : — 

" It pains me to relinquish my tract, Bible and 
poor visitings, and the mission school, but most of 
all my beloved Bible-class. Oh, how I long to sit 
once more in my form and speak to them of the re- 
deeming love of Christ! Perhaps my last message 
to them has been given." 

Again, however, for a brief period, this pious 
wish was gratified, and she sat in that form, 
still the evident victim of fatal disease, but en- 
gaged as ardently as ever in the delightful work 
of leading the young to Christ. But it was not 
long ere she was finally obliged to relinquish 
her charge; and then she wrote again to the 
same correspondent, April 21, 1859: — 

"But they have compelled me to give up my Bible- 
class. Ah! this is the hardest of all! For two 
months past my pupils and I have been travelling 



20 louisa: 

with the Israelites in their wanderings in the desert, 
with mutual benefit and greater insight into the 
dealings of God with his rebellious people; and now 
we must stop. But the pillar of cloud that rests 
above us is not all dark ! We see the shadowings 
forth of His presence who never willingly afflicts ; 
and I feel that he is near, and trust that the impa- 
tient soul has been brought 

" 'To lie passive in his hand, 
And know no will but his.' " 

Other illustrations of her devotion to this 
department of Christian effort will occur in 
their proper places in her correspondence; but 
all exhibit the same cheerful, loving spirit which 
beams from the passages just cited from her 
last days. 

In the work of tract-distribution, and as a 
visitor and officer of the Bible society, Louisa 
was untiring and successful. In addition to the 
circulation of Bibles as a visitor of a district 
Bible society, she had the charge of two dis- 
tricts as a tract-distributor. She was also a 
visitor of that very useful institution, the Union 
Benevolent Society, an agency in which more 
than two hundred Christian ladies of Philadel- 
phia voluntarily engage, seeking the poor at 



a pastor's MEMORIAL. 21 

their own homes and dispensing the charities 
of thousands of our citizens. None but those 
who have actually tried it can begin to realize 
the difficulty or the rewards of these peculiar 
services. On anniversary occasions the poetry 
of this work is easily rehearsed in glowing 
strains; but the prose is to be read in many a 
filthy court or cellar, and in scenes of distress 
which require nerves of iron and hearts of love, 
and hands well filled for their relief. 

A few extracts from reports drawn up with 
her own hand will show how she laboured in 
" holding forth" " the word of life" among the 
poor : — 

"Entering a miserable court, we sought in a part 
of a ruinous tenement a German family to whom we 
had given a Bible two years previously. Twelve 
months since, they greeted us from their threshold, 
and to our question answered, in the strong accents 
of their native tongue," We read our Bible — oh, yes, 
indeed." But where were they now ? They had gone 
to the grave, victims of the scourge that had ravaged 
the length and breadth of our land, and one little 
child, fatherless and alone, was the sole remnant of 
this foreign family. We know not the frame of 
mind with which they met the king of terrors, but 
we do know that our Society placed within their 
hands the lamp which may have lighted them 



22 louisa: 

through the dark valley, and the staff which may 
have supported their fainting footsteps. As a Soci- 
ety we may be feeble and little known to those who, 
with vast funds and gigantic effort, distribute their 
pages through every town and hamlet in our interior 
and on our coasts, but we aim at the same end ; and 
should our visitors faint or become weary of holding 
forth the word of life when the wretched, the priest- 
ridden and the stranger in a strange land receive it 
from their hands with expectant eagerness? 

" Our district has again been visited. Each suc- 
ceeding year is manifested towards us increasing 
confidence, not only in those who contribute of their 
substance, but also in those who from our hands 
receive the word of life. This makes the duty 
more pleasing. Would that it might be said, ' I 
delight to do thy will, God/ With some of those 
we meet, an attempt at conversation would produce 
confusion of tongues ; we are to each other perfectly 
unintelligible ; but by the aid of an interpreter we 
learn they have brought from their fatherland a 
German Bible. One we examined had been printed 
nearly a century. But all are not so well supplied. 
Others come to this Western world without this 
precious treasure, and receive it thankfully. A 
respectable-looking woman, in reply to our oft- 
repeated question, ' Have you a Bible V said, ' When 
we were married, thirty years ago, by Mr. Patterson, 
he made the same inquiry : he then added, " On your 
careful and prayerful perusal of it depends your 
happiness ; make it the man of your counsel." 7 She 
remarked, she had a small one at the time, but she 



a pastor's memorial. 23 

went the next day and bought a family Bible to 
begin housekeeping with. He being dead, yet speaketh. 

" We have supplied a number of German families 
with the Scriptures. A young couple, who keep an 
open shop on the Sabbath, with the excuse that 
reading the Bible will not give food, interested us 
much. We spoke of the guilt of breaking God's 
commands, quoted David's testimony, ' that he had 
never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed beg- 
ging bread/ pointed to the promise of the Lord to 
those who honoured his holy day, yea, that they 
should even be fed with the heritage of Jacob, and 
left a Bible with them, with the prayer that the 
impression which seemed to be produced might be 
strengthened, to the salvation of their souls, as they 
read its holy pages. 

" An aged German woman, in an obscure garret, 
who was unable to express herself intelligibly in our 
language, grasped the sacred volume eagerly, while 
the tears gave utterance to the gratitude which filled 
her soul. One gladly paid part price. Two were 
Roman Catholics ; but all received the precious gift 
with much pleasure. 

"We gave a Bible to a family where — though the 
wife was a Protestant — the husband, a Roman Catho- 
lic, sent their children to a Sabbath-school of his 
own denomination. The wife, however, was per- 
mitted to accept a copy of the Scriptures, and after 
a time to read aloud in his presence truths from the 
holy pages, which made an impression on his mind, 
and induced him, at our suggestion, to remove his 
children to a school where those precious truths 



24 louisa : 

were fully taught ; and he now desires to attend a 
Protestant place of worship. We also found, in a 
miserable shanty, a couple far advanced in life, the 
wife confined to a wretched pallet on the floor by an 
excruciating disease, and her aged partner endea- 
vouring to minister to her wants. After supplying 
their urgent necessities, we learned that they were 
also destitute of the word of life. The husband was 
a Roman Catholic, but the sufferer, having been 
raised a Protestant, possessed some knowledge of 
its important truths, and desired eagerly to gaze 
once more upon its sacred pages. We shall never 
forget how the face, which had long ceased to smile, 
brightened as we presented it, and with what intense 
earnestness she listened as we told the tale of a 
Saviour's love. It awoke some long-forgotten me- 
mories : perhaps a revered father had taught her its 
precepts ; perhaps she had heard them at a mother's 
knee. For many weeks it was our privilege to visit 
that humble home, and we always found her ready 
to converse on some portion she had been reading, 
and her husband willing to listen. When the poor 
creature was racked with pain, he would read aloud 
some selected passages, and we thus left the aged 
pair students of God's word. May it prove a lamp 
to their feet, as they together tread the downward 
passage to the grave ! 

" A visitor writes, ' Another year we have been 
permitted to • go forward in our Master's service, 
holding forth the word of life to the tempted, the 
weary, the desolate and the forsaken. Many have 



a pastor's memorial. 25 

stretched out eager hands for its possession, and but 
few refused the offered boon/ 

" Looking into a cheerful, cleanly room, we asked 
an intelligent German girl if they had a Bible. ' No/ 
she answered : ' will you give us one V adding, ear- 
nestly, ' we should be so glad/ Finding, in after-con- 
versation with the family, that she spoke truly, we 
rejoiced to make an invalid father happy in his 
precious gift. 

"Up many flights of stairs, at the top of a large 
building, we found a German widow, afflicted with a 
distressing disease. She had learned to read the 
Scriptures in her fatherland, but never after treading 
the soil of America had her eyes rested on the holy 
volume. Most thankfully she received it, and atten- 
tively listened to the story of the great Physician, 
and the mighty remedy provided for the sin-sick 
soul. A delicate shoemaker and his wife, living in 
the next room, seemed so poor that we asked for no 
compensation as we placed the Bible in their hands, 
but they joyfully inquired the price, and, running to 
an old chest, drew forth the money with grateful 
smiles. Before we left them, the husband had for- 
gotten our presence and his labour, in the intense 
perusal of his newly-purchased treasure. May it, 
indeed, prove to them the ' pearl of great price/ 

"A Roman Catholic widow, with a family of chil- 
dren, whom we had promised a copy of the Scrip- 
tures, became so fearful that we would forget her, 
that she daily watched for our appearance with much 
anxiety. To the question, 'Will your priest allow 
you to read the Bible V she answered, ' Oh, I do not 
3 



26 louisa : 

care for him. I know it is a good book, and will do 
me and my little ones no harm/ 

" Our tap at the door of a little house in a court 
summoned a neat-looking woman, who invited us to 
enter, and, glancing within at an old gentleman who 
was lying propped up with pillows, we accepted the 
invitation. Two years previously the Lord had laid 
his afflicting hand upon him, and the strong man 
had become a helpless paralytic. But he knew not 
Him who had smitten: the chastisements of a mer- 
ciful heavenly Father had not subdued the rebellious 
heart. Alas ! he was an infidel. 

" Determined to have no conversation with us, 
he grimly perused his Sunday papers without appa- 
rently noticing our entrance : so, after talking with 
the wife, we took our leave, placing a tract in his 
unwilling hand. Since then we have visited him a 
number of times, and though we fear he does not 
yet love the Book of Books presented to him, still 
he politely listens to us as we sit by his bedside and 
speak of the evanescence of all earthly hopes, the 
Christian's faith as the only true source of hap- 
piness, and the value of the never-dying soul. On 
departing, he takes us by the hand, and invites us 
soon to return. Have we not reason to hope that 
this poor cripple may be led to see his fearful con- 
dition, and seek his safety at the foot of the cross, 
though at the eleventh hour, that he may yet cry, 
with the penitent on Calvary, ' Lord, remember me V 
and like him receive the blessing V 

The following testimony is from a devoted 



a pastor's memorial. 27 

city missionary who had laboured with Louisa 
for twelve years : — 

" A sincere desire to glorify her Lord and Saviour 
in her walk and conversation was a prominent fea- 
ture in her character. She had a tender love for 
perishing souls, and laboured earnestly, perseve- 
ringly and prayerfully for their eternal salvation. 
She was a friend to the poor, the friendless and the 
wretched, and, in intercourse with them, tried to 
point them to Jesus as the true comforter, the boun- 
tiful benefactor and the only Saviour. Her inter- 
course with her fellow-labourers in the vineyard of 
her Lord and Master was ever characterized bj- 
amiability of temper, unobtrusiveness of self and 
an earnest desire to extend the Saviour's kingdom. 
Truly, her life was hid with Christ in God, and when 
He whom her soul loved shall appear, she will be 
like him ; for she will see him as he is." 

Commendations like the above are valuable 
in connection with the facts of her own reports, 
as showing the nature of the work to be done, 
and the power of a single good example of 
patience and perseverance in well-doing. "While 
she lived, she sought no human applause; for 
her reward was with her. Xow that she is 
glorified with Christ, her works do follow her. 

But, after all, the chief value of these ex- 



28 louisa : 

tracts to our present purpose is, that they 
glorify God in the humble labours of a self- 
denying private Christian woman. Uncon- 
sciously to herself, she has photographed her 
own face and form by the light that shone 
from heaven upon her cheerful pathway. 

We reserve for the next chapter what was 
perhaps the most interesting field of usefulness 
in which Louisa ever laboured. 



a pastor's memorial. 29 



CHAPTEE IY. 

The city of Philadelphia is noted for its 
many and great institutions of public and pri- 
vate charity. Soup -houses, homes for the 
indigent, societies for the relief and employ- 
ment of the poor, lying-in charities, national 
benevolent societies, dispensaries, asylums for 
the blind, for the deaf and dumb, for the in- 
sane, and for feeble-minded children, are the 
fruits of a Christian philanthropy of which 
every citizen may well be proud. Of such 
institutions none are more successful and 
deserving of patronage than those devoted to 
the children of the neglected and degraded 
poor. Homes for friendless children, indus- 
trial schools, union and church missions, with 
their chapels and Sabbath and weekday 
schools, abound in the city of William Perm. 
They embrace children of both sexes and of 
all colours and classes. Most of them are sus- 
tained almost entirely by private beneficence, 

3* 



30 louisa: 

and this, too, is the aggregate of small annual 
subscriptions, chiefly collected by the voluntary 
efforts of ladies who devote not a little of their 
time to these works of love. Some of these 
institutions have large and well-adapted edifices 
erected for their use. Others hire some cheap 
tenement in the immediate vicinity of their 
missionary work, and there, in obscure and 
often unpleasant quarters, they carry out their 
plans of usefulness with a degree of courage 
and perseverance which nothing but strong 
Christian faith could inspire. Persons living 
out of the cities, and hundreds of thousands 
who reside in them, cannot begin to realize the 
revolting difficulties of this redeeming work, 
even among the children. One Christmas- 
day, the author went with a youth of sixteen 
to search out a suffering family, the father of 
which had been begging at his door. Within 
two or three squares of some of our palatial 
residences, we found the streets lined with old 
and rickety dwellings, the very sight of which 
was forbidding; and their interiors were more 
repulsive still. The whole population seemed 
to have poured into the street. Black and 



a pastor's memorial. 31 

white, drunken and sober, cursing and swear- 
ing, carousing and fighting, they thronged the 
corners, crowded the door-ways of grog-shops, 
or took possession of the middle of the street. 
Grim and lusty policemen moved at intervals 
upon the highway, with clubs hanging from 
their wrists and six-shooters in their pockets. 
There were white women with tangled and 
matted hair, and filthy black women with 
babies in their arms and rags upon their per- 
sons, blear-eyed drunkards and savage despe- 
radoes of the neighbourhood, and little children 
and half-grown boys and girls, — all steeped in 
the same poverty, and partakers, in greater or 
less degrees, of the same crimes. Here was a 
street-brawl, with its screams and curses and 
blows and scratches; there a lone sot of a 
man tottered at the door of the "hell" where 
the vilest of drugged liquors were sold and 
drank. Beyond were a more peaceful set, 
better dressed, and quite decent in behaviour. 
But all around us was a scene of that utter 
wretchedness which only want, immorality 
and crime of the lowest degree can make. 
The air was filled with feculence; the ear was 



32 louisa: 

assailed by blasphemies and filthy language 
utterly indescribable; and the moral pestilence 
was even greater than the outward woe. Yet 
in one of these most obscure side streets, where 
guilt and shame might have held their carnival, 
there stood a little low building, whose painted 
sign over the door told us it was a mission-house. 
My young friend shrank back at almost every 
step, and grew pale as we went up alley after 
alley and knocked at the doors of old rook- 
eries, looking in vain for the family we sought. 
And as some of the doors would be " opened 
on a crack," and wretched, hideous-looking 
hags of half-naked or drunken and smoking 
women looked through at us and answered our 
queries and then shut the door in our faces, we 
both felt as if we had indeed reached the dens 
and sinks of utter want. It was but a look at 
the surface of this "Dead Sea." What must it 
be lower down, and all through its mysterious 
depths ? 

My young friend could scarcely believe that 
any respectable person would venture daily 
there without an armed police to guide and 
shield him, much less that delicate and devoted 



a pastor's memorial. 33 

Christian ladies could carry on a mission amid 
such a population. He Trent back really sick- 
ened and distressed ; and at night his vision 
pictured the horrible scenes just witnessed, 
with vivid and unwelcome power. Such was 
the outside of Seventh and Baker and Spafford 
Streets on a Christmas afternoon. 

Yet on that same day, in that very vicinity, 
the visitor to one or more of the missions 
might have found a goodly company of Chris- 
tian people, enjoying the Christmas celebration 
which they had prepared for a hundred or 
more children whom they had rescued from 
ruin, clothed, fed, and taught in the elements 
of the English tongue and of Christian faith. 
Clean and nicely garbed, they sang their sacred 
songs and said their lessons and repeated 
sweet hymns and Scripture verses; they 
showed their achievements in knitting or sew- 
ing ; they were reverent in prayer, attentive 
when addressed, and their happy faces and 
manifest progress brought rich reward to their 
teachers and benefactors, whose crowns were 
laid up in heaven. 

Among these institutions there was one 



34 louisa : 

known as " The Ladies' Union City Mission," 
of which we shall say a few things, both for its 
own sake, and because Louisa was one of its 
brightest lights. 

One day a Christian lady went out to see a 
poor family of whose want she had heard. It 
was the coldest of winter weather, — but all the 
more need, therefore, of twice-blessed charity. 
Up into an old garret, which was lighted only 
through the chinks of the closed shutter of a 
sashless window, she pressed her way. But 
what a scene was there ! A tall, gaunt man, 
with matted hair and scanty clothing, stood in 
one spot. His wife, still more wretched in 
appearance, was bending over the cheerless 
hearth. There was no fire there. But look at 
that ash-heap. What can be there ? The kind 
visitor stoops down, and sees the two children 
of this starving family, covered up with the 
ashes, to keep them from freezing to death ! 
and their poor mother is watching them there. 
It is needless to pursue the incident further 
than to say that the benevolent impulses 
which it started in that sympathetic heart led 
ultimately to the establishment of the Ladies' 



a pastor's memorial. 35 

Union City Mission, of Philadelphia, in the 
year 1847. 

As its name imports, it was a Union Mission, 
composed of ladies of different denominations 
of Christians in the city. Its mission-house 
was located in the immediate vicinity whose 
Christmas scenes we have tried to picture. It 
comprehended a Sabbath-school, and an indus- 
trial school for girls, — the latter founded in 
1855. The funds were contributed in small 
amounts by benevolent individuals of various 
religious denominations. A Dorcas society 
was organized in connection with the mission, 
which furnished hundreds of garments for poor 
children whom they tried to save. Faithful 
missionaries were employed, who gave a large 
portion of their time to the visitation of the 
poor at their homes, to the gathering in of the 
children, the partial oversight of the Sunday- 
school, and to many other duties incident to 
such a position. One of these missionaries was 
a minister of the gospel, who exercised a sort 
of episcopal care over his charge, preaching at 
the mission-house, and from house to house, 
among the wretched denizens of the locality. 



36 louisa: 

Year after year the good work went on, until 
it was at last, for a season, suspended for want 
of funds. But after a few months it embraced 
the opportunity of changing its scene of ope- 
rations and modifying its course. This oc- 
curred in 1858, since which time it has been 
chiefly known in connection with the Union 
Mission Sabbath-School, which is now in a 
flourishing condition in their chapel at the 
corner of Second and Yine Streets. There the 
same system of visitation, instruction, and dis- 
tribution of tracts, Bibles, garments and other 
necessaries of the work, is kept up. New 
helpers have come in to replace those whom 
Providence has removed, and, although re- 
stricted in its sphere, the good work advances, 
with many tokens of God's blessing. 

Almost from the outset, Louisa was a mem- 
ber of this City Mission. During a portion of 
this time she was one of its managers, and also 
its corresponding secretary. In this latter 
capacity she drew up several of the annual 
reports. A few interesting extracts from these 
will show that it was no trifling interest or 
little labour which filled the hearts and hands 



a pastor's memorial. 37 

of this little band of noble women. They will 
also furnish some idea of the mental and 
spiritual, as well as physical, powers which 
she and her co-labourers brought into this field 
of voluntary effort. 

These reports are so graphic, so manifestly 
true and so full of power that they need no 
setting of our words to frame them for public 
view. We therefore submit them without 
another word. The first extract is taken from 
the Ninth Annual Eeport, presented March, 

1856 :— 

" Look at this attenuated little creature, — her 
body bruised and blackened by brutal treatment, 
and go with me to her home ! You must bid adieu 
to the bright sunshine, and slowly descend these 
crazy steps. Call you this a home? — Can this dark, 
damp cellar, with its cold hearth and broken floor, 
bear that sacred name ? Where is the well-spread 
board, the glow of the fireside, the mother's smile, 
that kindles the love of home in every human 
breast ? Alas ! here is no light, no hope, no love, but 
in that corner lies the drunken parent, who will only 
arise from her lethargy to beat her helpless child. 

" The endeavour to rescue such children from such 
suffering originated the Ladies' Union City Mission, 
its members influenced by no sectarian views, and 
actuated only by love to God and love to fellow-men. 
Our Missionary, a minister of the gospel, well fitted 



38 louisa : 

for the important work, constantly visits these 
abodes of vice, draws the youth around him by 
gentle words, a luxury to many before unknown, 
relieves the needy, warns the hardened, consoles the 
afflicted, and at the bedside of the sick and dying 
points the sufferer to Him who died on Calvary. 

" On one occasion a poor inebriate, attracted by 
the singing, stepped in. Words of warning and pro- 
mises of peace fell upon his ear and sunk deep into 
his soul. He had been the subject of marry prayers, 
but, led by evil companions, had strayed far in the 
paths of vice, until his steps were thus arrested. 
Like the prodigal son, he determined to return' unto 
his Father : the intoxicating cup has been abandoned, 
his- friends rejoice in the lost found, and now he 
himself teaches those truths that have proved so 
precious to his soul. Truly there was joy in heaven 
over this repentant sinner ! 

" Our Dorcas society, during the past year, has 
clothed one hundred and eighty-three children, re- 
quiring seven hundred and thirty-four garments. 

" The Sunday and day schools of the southern 
district have gradually increased, until the roll now 
numbers one hundred and thirty-five, the average 
attendance being one hundred and five pupils. 
For some years past the great want of an Indus- 
trial school for girls has weighed heavily on the 
minds of the managers, but, owing to scarcity of 
funds, its organization was deferred until April, 1855, 
when at their Mission House, 286 South Sixth St., was 
formed the first institution of the kind in the city. 
A committee of ladies daily visit it, and under their 



a pastor's memorial. 39 

supervision the children are taught habits of clean- 
liness and industry, the use of the needle, and the 
common branches of housekeeping, which, with 
their intellectual and moral training, will tend, with 
the blessing of God, to destroy that spirit of depend- 
ence which so completely enthralls the adult popu- 
lation by which they are surrounded, and make 
them thriving and respectable citizens. These little 
ones sometimes become our valuable assistants, by 
their endeavours to impart to their wretched dwell- 
ings an air of neatness and comfort. Thus we seek 
to raise them from misery and shame, — their only 
inheritance from their guilty parents ; nor have we 
been unsuccessful. Those who saw them some time 
ago, in their rags and filth, vagrants, candidates for 
the alms-house and penitentiary, would not now 
recognise the bright, cheerful faces that daily gather 
round their teachers, listen with grateful affection 
to their parental instructions, and sing their favour- 
ite hymns. 

" One afternoon during the summer of 1854, one 
of the little girls belonging to our school came to 
the house of one of the managers, weeping bitterly, 
and saying 'that her mother had just died of cholerar.' 
Her sad story ended with the inquiry, ' What shall I 
do ? I have no mother nor home now.' For nearly 
a year we had known this little girl and watched 
over her with the interest which her need and sor- 
row required. Her mother was intemperate, and 
depended almost entirely upon this child to beg for 
their support ; but still she was her mother, and 
Tilly knew that her last home-tie was broken. She 



40 louisa : 

was taken to the house of the missionary, where she 
remained until a situation could be obtained for her. 
For nearly two years she has lived in Camden, the 
inmate of a happy home, sharing its privileges and 
enjoyments. This spring she joined the Baptist 
Church, after fully satisfying the family and pastor, 
both by her conduct and answers to the questions 
proposed, that she, through the grace of God, was 
fitted to become a member of Christ's visible Church. 

" Some half-grown boys, formerly of the worst cha- 
racter, are now pursuing decent employment, and a 
few are enjoying the comforts of a Children's Home. 
Several wretched inebriates have been induced to 
resign the poisonous draught, and attend the stated 
religious exercises at the Mission House, where their 
devout attention attests their interest in things con- 
cerning their peace. 

" One of our little boys was taken very ill, — on 
hearing which we hastened to see him. Disease had 
already made fearful progress, but on our entering 
he raised his feeble hands, and a glad welcome smile 
played on his countenance, Having sung 'When 
little Samuel woke/ according to his request, and 
engaged in prayer, we told him that he soon must 
die, and asked what message we should bear to his 
classmates, whom he no more would see on earth. 
'Tell them/ said he, 'that I love Jesus, and I wish 
they would love him too. Yes ; tell them that I love 
Jesus/ Gently as fades the evening twilight, passed 
the dying boy to his rest; the bright eyes were fixed 
on immortal glories, the hands clasped in prayer, 
and then the rapt spirit went home." 



a pastor's memorial. 41 

The next extracts are from the Tenth Annual 
.Report, made March, 1857 :— 

" Our missionary, with great zeal for their welfare, 
is constantly searching the intricate mazes of Baker, 
Bedford, and Spaffbrd Streets, and from the tottering 
garret and dark, damp cellar brings the wretched 
children of want to our schools. 

" Let us go with him to one of these homes. Start 
not ! the cellar is cold and filthy, but, horrible though 
it be, it contains those we seek, — the destitute and 
suffering. Here is a sick mother, with two little 
daughters. But not upon these does our frightened 
gaze rest, but on a lifeless form on the bare floor. 
Two days ago, the poor, stricken father, a stranger 
in a strange city, here lay down and died, and since 
then no friendly hand has been extended to succor 
the widow and the fatherless, or to remove the dead 
from their sight. Oh, what misery is this ! But 
among such scenes is our mission : the widow is made 
comfortable, and her children, soon to be orphans, 
now sit in our school with cheerful, happy coun- 
tenances, instead of the look of despair. 

" The Sunday-school has greatly increased during 
the past year, the roll numbering two hundred and 
seven, — the average attendance one hundred and 
tex. And in this department is noticed especially 
the transforming effect produced upon the tattered, 
vagrant children, who, won by kind words and gentle 
treatment, crowd to the place of instruction with 
bright, intelligent faces, listen eagerly to Scripture 
truths, bow their knees in prayer, and sing their 
4* 



42 louisa : 

songs of praise. Their knowledge of the Bible is 
already astonishing, and the endeavours of some to 
reduce that knowledge to practice, most encouraging. 

" The coppers occasionally given them for correct 
recitations are oftentimes placed, voluntarily, in 
their superintendent's hand for the mission cause ; 
and once, when that loved teacher commended a lad 
for assisting a schoolmate to his own disadvantage, 
' Ah/ said he, 'I remember the little sunbeams that 
you said we must try and make shine in each other's 
hearts.' 

" Another boy has applied for admission into the 
communion of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church ; 
while several, endued with a missionary spirit, dis- 
tribute tracts in their vicinity, and one girl succeeded 
in having a little ragged neighbour clothed to attend 
school, by soliciting benevolent individuals for the 
needed articles. 

" To further advance their spiritual interests, we 
have religious exercises in the Mission House, 286 
South Sixth Street, every Sabbath morning and 
evening, designed entirely for the young, though 
sometimes adults attend with profit ; and also an- 
other one is held on Thursday evenings. 

"These arrangements promise rich results. Our 
missionary writes : — ' I was pleased to see one of the 
older boys, who had heretofore given us much trouble, 
come in last Sabbath morning, and, on taking a seat, 
rest his head on his hand and offer a prayer.' And 
again : — ' At a recent service, a large number were 
deeply affected ; their hearts seemed softened by the 
Spirit of God to receive good and, we hope, lasting 



a pastor's memorial. 43 

impression s.' Can these meetings prove otherwise 
than salutary ? Eternity alone will reveal. 

" The adult population which surrounds us is much 
benefited, directly and indirectly, by our efforts : the 
wretched drunkard has become sober, the oil of con- 
solation has been poured into the wounded spirit, 
and the sick and dying pointed to the Great Phy- 
sician mighty to save. 

" On one occasion, three children who were dis- 
missed from a Eoman Catholic school for want of 
suitable clothing were taken into our own and pro- 
vided, since which time none of the family have 
attended that communion. 

" A poor woman, with a large family, who had been 
reduced to penury by a drunken husband, besought 
our missionary to plead once again with him to resist 
the fatal tempter. Hearkening to her request, plea 
was urged upon plea, until the constant exertions 
were at length rewarded. The miserable inebriate 
abandoned the poisonous cup and the road to ruin, 
and now seeks, by earnest and diligent employment, 
to provide for his once-forsaken household. 

" The widowed mother of two of our scholars was 
taken sick unto death. During her illness, which 
she bore with Christian fortitude, the thought of her 
unprotected little ones harrowed her soul ; but, being 
frequently visited, and assured that we would take 
care of them, the last tie to earth was loosened, and 
the happy spirit departed to brighter scenes. 

" Most of these children came to us exceedingly 
ragged. Our Dorcas society, during the past year, 
has clothed two Hundred and tw T enty-eight, requiring 



44 louisa : 

six hundred and twenty-one garments, many of the 
materials for which were furnished by generous in- 
dividuals." 

The last report we give nearly in full, as it 
was the last that came from the willing and 
ready pen of its devoted author. Bear in mind 
that it was issued amid the gracious scenes of 
the great revival of 1858 : — 

* For eleven years it has been the effort of the 
Ladies' Union City Mission to attend to the Master's 
injunction, in caring for the worse-than-orphaned 
little creatures who traverse our streets with the 
piteous beggar's whine, in their rags and filth, a blot 
upon our city's fair escutcheon. In the southern 
portion, in the vicinity of Baker, Bedford, and 
Spafford Streets, hundreds are being reared in the 
hotbeds of crime and misery. They are beyond the 
influence of our public schools, and, kept by their 
parents to minister to their vices, are walking rapidly 
downwards to the gate of death. 

" Can nothing be done for them ? Must these 
unfortunate children be allowed to grow up in their 
sin, and, more fatal in their influence than the deadly 
upas, spread blight and disease on all around? We 
have answered these questions by establishing schools 
in their midst, and from the miserable garret and 
filthy, cellar, where even sweet charity hesitates to 
enter, to gather pupils to learn the precious news of 
the gospel, — news, indeed, even tlfough they claim 



a pastor's memorial. 45 

with us the honour of birth in a Christian city, where 
the glad sound of salvation is echoed from pulpit to 
pulpit, and thousands are professing daily to live to 
God's glory. We have been likewise holding reli- 
gious services in the Mission House, No. 732 South 
Sixth Street, every Sabbath morning, the exercises 
being adapted to adults as well as youth. These are 
well attended, and will, we hope, produce good 
results. 

"The Sabbath -schools, with a roll of two hundred 
and fourteen, and average attendance of eighty-four, 
enjoy an efficient superintendent and a band of 
faithful teachers, who endeavour, to the utmost, to 
lead those under their charge to walk the narrow 
way into life eternal. The former thus writes: — 
' With very few exceptions, the children are obe- 
dient and orderly, and nearly all of the larger ones 
well versed in Scripture, apt to learn, punctual in 
attendance, and desirous of being and doing good. 
Three have left us by death. One, Margaret Ennis, 
was drowned, and her body followed to the grave 
by her superintendent and quite a number of the 
scholars, sorrowfully, it is true, but not as those 
without hope ; for she had gone from poverty and 
wretchedness to be with Him who hath said, " Suffer 
little children to come unto me." Eliza Ann and 
John Platner died within a few days of each other, 
the boy telling his mother he was going to his Father 
in heaven/ And thus the little ransomed spirits of 
our mission children passed to their rest. 

" In the day-school, which now numbers one hun- 
dred and six, the average attendance being sixty- 



46 louisa : 

three, the common branches of education and the 
skilful use of the needle are taught, with some 
simple details of housewifery ; and, under an ex- 
cellent matron and assistant young-lady teacher, 
they improve most rapidly. 

" In the pretty little girl who politely wishes you 
'good -morning' as you enter the school-room, it 
would not be easy to recognise the same child who 
a few months ago, with matted locks, unwashed face 
and hands, and tattered clothes, shrank terrified 
from you, scarce understanding the accents of kind- 
ness, to which she had been so unaccustomed. 

"We clothe these children as far as our means 
allow, having distributed last year between six and 
seven hundred garments and fifty pairs of shoes ; 
and again we gratefully thank the Directors of 
Girard College for their annual gift of half-worn 
clothing, which is most acceptable to us. 

" Some of our pupils have been provided with 
excellent places, and give, in many cases, satisfac- 
tion ; others have been sent to the Homes. One of 
these was a girl of ten years, who had endeavoured 
to destroy her life by drowning. Another was taken 
from a hut of Coloured bone-pickers, who turned her 
out to beg, and to obtain, honestly or otherwise, 
means to procure for them the means of intoxi- 
cation. 

" Go with us on one of our visiting rounds, and 
you will behold strange sights. Here, in a damp 
cellar, a drunken mother and two daughters lie 
sleeping on the floor, covered with rags and vermin, 
each with a racking cough, which threatens speedily. 



a pastor's memorial. 47 

to terminate their unhappy existence. And now, 
up these crazy stairs, we enter a miserable garret, 
where lies a dead infant ; but no soft hands have 
prepared the little sleeper for its last couch, — its 
happiest rest, unbroken by the sharp sounds of 
contention or the hollow laugh of intoxicated 
revellers. And here, again, we behold a besotted 
mother, with swollen face, and eyeballs glaring like 
fire. The furniture and bedding have been pawned, 
and her four helpless children have nothing to eat; 
but, even whilst we look, the eldest one enters with 
soup, weeping loudly, — for it is bitter cold, and her 
naked feet are covered with snow. 

" But we may now turn to scenes more cheering. 
This low room, though poor, is very clean ; the 
bright sunbeams, stealing in the narrow casement, 
play upon the sick-bed of one of our little scholars, 
but brighter still are the smiles that light her face 
as we enter. There is no discontent nor impatience 
at her lot, and her Bible is her constant companion. 

" How often have the footsteps of our faithful 
visitors turned to the couch of the sick man, now 
no more, to bear him the gospel messages of hope 
and peace! A victim of vicious habits, he could 
feelingly exclaim, — 

* Depths of mercy, can there be 
Mercy still reserved for me V 

Although at the eleventh hour, he cast himself on 
the merits of his Saviour, and in the joy of his for- 
giving love entered calmly the dark valley, fearing 



48 louisa : 

no evil ; for ' thy rod and thy staff' they comforted 
him. 

" Behold the influence of our mission. Yes ; 
something can be done for the salvation of these 
many perishing souls. 

" Two boys of the school picked up a small parcel 
on Chestnut Street, valued at fifteen dollars, which 
they immediately brought to their teachers, who 
were successful in finding the owner ; and, again, 
two others were heard singing the mission hymns 
in the evening, as they traversed the gloomy alley 
which led to their homes. How different from the 
thievish propensities and the dreadful oaths of those 
still uncared-for youth around us ! 

" Discouragements of various kinds have been 
our's. During last winter, an exhausted treasury 
almost palsied our hearts and our hands, causing us 
to ask sadly the frequent question, ' Shall we return 
these children whence we obtained them V We felt 
it must not be. Our faith was weak, but it kept our 
schools together ; and, though compelled to dis- 
charge our faithful missionary, we have struggled 
on, with great effort, until the present time. 

" And now, while the Holy Spirit is being poured 
down in such copious effusions in this and other 
cities, we present our schools in humble suppli- 
cation at the Throne of Grace, that it may also rest 
upon us. Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, and, like 
Bartimeus of old, we cry aloud, - Thou Son of David, 
have mercy upon us V And he has listened to our 
prayer. Several of our pupils have been led to see 
their guilt and misery, and to seek their only refuge 



A pastor's memorial. 49 

in the rock Christ Jesus. At one of our meetings, 
the father of one of the children rose and asked an 
interest in our prayers. From his youth he had 
drank of the cup of sin, even to its dregs : he had 
loved the ways of wickedness, but now, with the 
help of God, he determined to cast off the shackles 
of Satan and stand, a freeman indeed, in the pre- 
cious light of gospel liberty. He had spent his 
strength for nought, but now he resolved, with 
God's blessing, to live for his glory. 

"Christian brothers and sisters, have you no in- 
terest in this cause? Is it not worth upholding? 
Should we despise these little ones, how are we to 
meet Him who has given us the power to do them 
good ? May not our doom be that of him who hid 
his talent in a napkin." 



50 louisa : 



CHAPTEE V. 

The scene of the Mission was soon to be 
changed. Useful as it was, and self-denying 
as were the labours of the disinterested ladies 
who engaged in the arduous service, their 
friends were not sufficient to warrant its con- 
tinuance on the former scale. Then, as we 
have said, there came a pause. It was a time 
of great discouragement, and of no small sor- 
row. But, though " cast down, they were not 
destroyed/-' The occasion for resuscitating 
their work was scarcely less interesting than 
its original commencement. It is thus nar- 
rated by the then superintendent of a Sabbath- 
school which was started in the hall of a fire- 
engine company by some of the ladies of the 
Union City Mission, with which it was soon 
definitely to be connected. 

"Vigilant Hall, Dec. 26, 1859. 

" Thirteen months since, a few ladies, for whom the 
Lord had done great things, remembering his com- 



A PASTOR'S MEMORIAL. 51 

mand, ' Go ye into all the world and Preach the 
Gospel to every Creature/ were constrained to yield 
obedience by doing what they could for those perish- 
ing around them. They accordingly commenced 
their work as tract-distributors. They visited some 
four hundred families, taking with them not only 
the tracts, but the precious word of God. Nearly 
everywhere they went, they were greeted with a 
cordial welcome ; and the expressions, ' God bless 
you/ ' Come soon again/ * It is a long time since 
we have had a tract/ &c, seemed to cheer and en- 
courage them in their ' labour of love/ 

" Whenever they met with the sick and suffering, 
they endeavoured to point them to the great 'Phy- 
sician/ praying with and for them^ and providing 
such comfort for the invalid as a gentle female only 
can. Many having no Bibles were supplied, their 
children clothed, and on the 4th Sabbath in Novem- 
ber, 1858, this room was first opened for the purpose 
of organizing a Sabbath-school. The day proved a 
very stormy one; notwithstanding this,, twenty boys 
were present. The scene was one of disorder and con- 
fusion, — boys jumping from bench to bench, some 
whistling, others shouting, and, were I to repeat their 
language, methinks you would be surprised and your 
hearts pained. Nothing was accomplished on that 
day ; but during the following week, the number of 
teachers being increased, they combined their efforts 
to increase the number of scholars, and on the next 
Sabbath we commenced with fifty-nine boys and one 
girl, their ages averaging from fourteen to seventeen 
years. They were all bright, intelligent-looking 



52 louisa : 

children, but seemed to have ' no fear of God, or 
regard for man/ A similar scene was enacted as 
at the opening. Oh, the disappointment ! it was 
inexpressible. But upholding faith was given, and 
the encouraged ones, knowing the source to which 
they must look for help, sought and obtained it ; 
and they thanked God that he had made them his 
instruments, and sent them into a harvest where 
labourers were so much needed. The school gra- 
dually improved, and now, instead of disorder and 
confusion, I feel happy in saying, it is equal to any 
in general deportment. Through the blessing of 
God, we now number one hundred and thirty-eight 
scholars, of which eighty- one are boys and fifty-seven 
girls, with an average attendance of thirty-seven. 
We have four male teachers and nine female, one 
superintendent, and one librarian. I regret to report 
the loss of five teachers, four male and one female ; 
we have also lost fourteen scholars, ten boys and four 
girls. Our library contains two hundred and fifty- 
two volumes, which, together with the ' Child's 
Paper/ has done much to interest and instruct the 
children. We sustain two prayer-meetings. Our 
Union Meeting is held every Sabbath afternoon, 
commencing at half-past three o'clock, to which all 
are invited ; the other, a Female Teachers' Meeting, 
is held every Thursday afternoon, and, although a 
teachers' meeting, the prayers are not for the school 
only, but for all parts of God's kingdom. We have 
received, during the last eight months, (the term of 
the present superintendent,) forty-nine visitors, 
from whom we obtained three teachers ; yet we feel 



a pastor's memorial. 53 

the need of many more. Brother, sister, will you 
not help us ? Will you not come ' to the help of the 
Lord ' ? 

'•Frequently as we pass from the school-room we 
see the boys seated upon a box, barrel, or on the 
door-steps, reading their library-books, and as we 
pass them they look up with a smile. Others, who 
have been sick, beg to come again, and be allowed 
the privilege of remaining during the hour of prayer; 
while others again have exclaimed, in the midst of 
their lessons, ; When I go home I will tell that 
Jesus died for us/ Happy thought ! ZST o later 
than yesterday week, a boy who had been wild and 
troublesome since the organization of the school 
proposed that ten boys should pay our rent, (which 
was declined.) and that he would be one; another 
in the same class expressed his regret that he could 
not assist, being out of work. 

" Since June, the children have contributed three 
dollars, with a request that it might be devoted to 
the cause of missions. The offering, though small, 
coming from poor children, is a precious gift cast 
into the treasury of our Lord." 

This Sabbath-school is now one of the most 
flourishing mission schools in the city. 

When the old location and plan of the Union 
City Mission were given up. and when this new 
system was adopted; Louisa was faithful among 
the faithful. Feeble as she was. she threw her 
whole soul into the movement, and even be- 



54 louisa : 

yond her ability. She gave it her counsel and 
her care, although she could not enlist in its 
teaching and other active work. The author 
of this memorial can testify to this of his own 
personal knowledge, for, as her pastor, he was 
frequently consulted by her respecting it. 
Every detail was attended to; nothing escaped 
her attention. Even through drenching storm 
and bitter cold did she come to advise respect- 
ing things that enlisted her attention, and she 
never rested until the enterprise was fairly and 
faithfully in progress. She was careful, pru- 
dent, zealous, and sacredly ambitious of high 
success. She was tender towards others, and 
"unsparing only of herself, at a time when 
others felt that she required the most assiduous 
care. But the story of her devotion to this 
mission work is better told by one of her bosom- 
friends, a lady of the same church, whose time 
and abilities are almost entirely consecrated to 
these labours of love among the destitute. 

This benevolent lady, writing at the author's 
desire, furnishes the subjoined lifelike sketch 
of her departed friend and helper : — 

" Louisa was for more than nine years a manager 



a pastor's memorial. 55 

in the ' Ladies' Union City Mission/ actively en- 
gaged in every department, — not only visiting the 
sick and destitute, but instructing in the industrial 
department, and collecting the means for carrying 
on the operations of the Mission. She was never 
absent from the meetings of the managers, and for 
several years was secretary of the board. Her place 
was never vacant when they met to make garments 
for the poor ; and next to her church this Mission 
shared her sympathies and prayers. When she met 
with sickness and want, she obtained medical and 
other assistance, — not only from the Mission, but 
from other benevolent societies, and from her 
friends. Through the cold and sleet of winter she 
would wend her way, loaded with the garments and 
provisions she had collected, going from cellar to 
garret, (many times having to feel her way up the 
dimly -lighted stairs,) to relieve the sick and suffer- 
ing, — instructing the ignorant in divine things, and 
reading the Scriptures to the aged and infirm, 
encouraging them to habits of industry and cleanli- 
ness, pointing out to them the advantages of edu- 
cation, and inducing them to send their children to 
the industrial and Sabbath schools. She would im- 
press upon all the duty of observing the holy Sab- 
bath and of attending religious worship. The cause 
of temperance was promoted among them by show- 
ing the misery and unhappiness of indulging in 
intoxicating drinks. She endeavoured to obtain 
employment or situations for those who were able to 
work, — thus placing them above the necessity of 
receiving charity. 



56 louisa : 

" When necessary to reprove, it was done in such a 
way as to avoid the least appearance of harshness or 
want of feeling for the miserable beings who en- 
deavoured to impose upon her. Her faith was 
strong in regard to the labour bestowed upon ' the 
children/ She would say, ' What we do for them 
will not be lost : it will tell hereafter ; for God's 
promise is sure. " My word shall not return unto 
me void, but it shall accomplish that which I 
please, and prosper in the things whereunto I send 
it." It is his own word, and we must not doubt it/ 
She never allowed any discouragements to prevent 
us from doing all we could for the children. But a 
few days before her death, — speaking of some of the 
little ones who had been taken from their wretched 
homes and more wretched parents, and now living 
in respectable families, surrounded by Christian in- 
fluences, which by the grace of Grod will not only 
make them respectable members of society, but 
which may be blessed to the salvation of their pre- 
cious souls, — her countenance brightened, and, with 
moistened eyes, she exclaimed, ' If the Mission has 
done nothing more than this, it is worth all the 
labor that has been given ; but eternity alone will 
reveal the fruits of that labour./ How almost pro- 
phetic were these words ! — for she has already, we 
humbly trust, been permitted to welcome one of 
the scholars of that Mission to the mansions pre- 
pared by our Saviour, — one who died a few weeks 
ago, trusting in his merits for salvation. The pre- 
sent Mission Sabbath -school has shared largely in 
her sympathies and prayers. She was not per- 



A pastor's memorial. 57 

mitted to meet with us, in consequence of indispo- 
sition ; yet we know that we have lost one who wept 
with us when we wept, and rejoiced when we re- 
joiced. In the Female Teachers' Prayer-Meeting, 
which was organized in her own home, she there 
for the first time in public lifted up her voice and 
pleaded earnestly for God's blessing to rest upon our 
labours. 

" Modest and unassuming, yet ready for every 
good word and work, she won the love and confi- 
dence of all engaged with her. In the board of 
managers her loss is deeply felt: it will be long 
before the void occasioned by her death can be 
filled. But our loss is her gain, and we would bow 
in submission to the will of Him who doeth ' all 
things well/ " 

None who knew Louisa will dispute the 
justice of her friend's warm tribute to her 
memory. But few besides her own family and 
immediate associates will ever know the moral 
heroism with which she lived for Christ, or the 
patience and love and success with which she 
ministered to the wretched, the sick and the 
dying, much less the number of souls of whose 
rescue from sin and hell she was the honoured 
instrument, by the grace of her Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

We repeat it that there is a moral heroism 



58 louisa : 

of the highest kind in these efforts of indivi- 
dual and united Christians among the degraded. 
It is a fundamental principle that the remedy 
of the aggravated pauperism and vice of our 
great cities cannot be found in mere legislation 
or political economy, much less in mechanical 
and spasmodic efforts of faint-hearted or ill- 
informed philanthropists. Our alms-house sys- 
tem is calculated to perpetuate the evil, by its 
temptations to indolence, its political complica- 
tions, and its failure to go down to the roots of 
the evil. There is scarcely a grander social 
problem in our day than how to deal with pau- 
perism in cities. A great city of six hundred 
thousand people demands more wisdom for its 
government than the w^hole State of which it 
is a constituent. But, alas ! of all governments 
those of our municipalities are generally the 
worst. The causes of pauperism lie chiefly in 
the character of the poor themselves. They 
defy climate, soil, government, philanthropy 
and Christianity itself. Yet this state of things 
must find a remedy, by mild or savage means. 
It cannot remain as it is. Every appropriate 
human agency is therefore summoned to the 



a pastor's MEMORIAL. 59 

rescue. Law, philanthropy, religion, have each 
their sphere. Indifference to the great moral 
questions, wants and dangers of the times is, 
therefore, a crime against society and rebellion 
against God. While law has been paralyzed or 
reigned by force, while philanthropy itself has 
turned pale before its worse than spectral 
visions, while pseudo-reformers have been spe- 
culating and dreaming, and experimenting and 
failing, practical Christianity has been at work 
with rare ingenuity and success. London, 
Glasgow, New York, Philadelphia and other 
cities are at this moment exhibiting the results 
of well-directed labour among the most de- 
graded of their respective populations. Such 
books as "Bagged Homes, and how to Mend 
them," published by the American Sunday- 
School Union, and kindred publications, tell 
their own grand story in simple words; and it 
is scarcely an exaggeration to assert that our 
most imposing charities cannot exhibit a re- 
cord of religious heroism or of direct and speedy 
blessing equal to that of the many little private, 
unendowed, struggling missions which Chris- 
tian women have dared to plant and loved to 



60 "Louisa : 

build up among and for the worst population 
of our city. 

The only hope for the wretched and outcast 
poor lies in this remedial and preventive action 
of Christian love. The grand feature of these 
missions is the care which they take of the 
children. If the adult class were utterly hope- 
less, (as it is not,) it is a glorious thing to try 
save to the second generation. "Born in sin 
and conceived in iniquity," addicted to drunk- 
enness, brought up in the lap of lust and edu- 
cated in the school of crime, they must become 
a race of vagrants, if not of thieves or some- 
thing worse, unless somebody " hastes to the 
rescue." It was a sad*sight when, some time 
ago, the police brought into one of our courts 
of justice no less than fifteen boys, tied by the 
wrists to a long rope, and charged with being 
incorrigible nuisances of the neighbourhood in 
which they lived. Not so does heavenly cha- 
rity deal with these young vagrants. Her's is 
a gentle hand and that " threefold cord" which 
u is not easily broken." Her court is the dwell- 
ing-place of mercy, and her methods are those 
which win and melt the hard hearts and revo- 



a pastor's memorial. 61 

lutionize the lives of the outcasts. She "puts 
a new song into the niouth" which was "filled 
with cursing and bitterness;" and while she 
ministers at the couch of the sufferer the pale 
face, once haggard with want, shines like that 
of the martyr Stephen, "as it had been that of 
an angel." The day is not distant when these 
achievements will be ranked among the noble 
deeds of primitive Christianity. That religion 
can be no failure which produces results like 
those of Dr. Chalmers in the West Port of 
Edinburgh, or like the ragged-schools and city 
missions of Britain and of our own dear coun- 
try. And those who are now. quietly laying 
the broad and deep foundations of this work 
will be enrolled with the apostles and martyrs 
and heroes of their age. Better still : we know 
what will be their "exceeding great reward" 
in the world's last day, when the enthroned 
Jesus shall single them out from the throngs 
of the universe, and say unto them, "Come, ye 
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom pre- 
pared for you from the foundation of the world : 
for I was ahungered, and ye gave me meat: 
I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink : 1 was a 



62 louisa: 

stranger, and ye took me in : naked, and ye 
clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I 
was in prison, and ye came unto me/' "Verily 
I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it 
unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye 
have done it unto me." 

What a starry crown will Louisa wear "in 
that day" ! 



a pastor's memorial. 63 



CHAPTEE VI. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



One of the most genial of letter-writers (the 
late Kev. Br. James W. Alexander) has described 
his idea of this graceful art in the following 
happy language : — " A letter, as I take it, is in 
tended to stand in lieu of an absent friend, to be 
his proxy in all things, to talk in his stead, and 
convey his own ideas in his own style of con- 
versation. JSTow, so far as the letter is a faith- 
ful representative, it is a fair picture of the 
disposition and sentiments of its author, and 
its value is to be estimated not so much by the 
intrinsic weight of the opinions expressed, or 
the intrinsic excellence of the style, (though 
these things give it a new value,) but by its 
resemblance to its author. If the writer be a 
festive, mercurial fellow, and the letter be as 
sage as an epistle of Seneca, I would not give 
a groat for it. Still I would always have a 



64 louisa : 

letter to be a vehicle of instruction. But even 
this instruction must be given in the same way 
that its parent would give it viva voce. That 
letter which is so characteristic as to present 
the writer to my eyes during its perusal, is 
worth its weight in silver; and to obtain this 
excellence, the writer of a letter must be ex- 
ceedingly passive, and just pen down whatever 
comes next."* 

With precisely this view, we venture to pre- 
sent parts of the familiar correspondence of the 
subject of this memoir, believing that it will 
enable the reader to take a fair picture of her 
mental and spiritual life, — her disposition and 
her service for the Master whom she loved so 
much. This is the only standard by which a 
fair judgment can be formed, or by which simi- 
lar effusions ought to be tried; in other words, 
the reader must judge them as would the sister, 
or cousin, or friend to whom they were sent, 
in the easy style and confiding spirit of the 
writer. 

The first of these communications is a brief 

* Forty Years' Familiar Correspondence, i. p. 7. 



1 pastor's memorial. 65 

note to a beloved sister, which well exhibits her 
reflective and conscientious habit of mind : — 

■•Philadelphia, Aug. 31, 1852. 
" The last day of summer ! and though, my dear 
sister, I can scarcely realize it, it speaks to the con- 
science in a voice not loud or strong, but unmistak- 
able and full of meaning. It would seem that the 
Dispenser of all good, by his wise arrangement of 
time into days, months, seasons and years, had in- 
tended that the rapid flight of each should be so 
many monitors of our own passing away, and re- 
proofs for misimproved opportunities and privileges. 
And now that I find myself at the close of another 
season, — and one, too, crowded with so many mer- 
cies, — the question proposes itself to me, What 
have I rendered for all these ? Ah, but very little ! 
My light has burned so very dimly that many, I 
fear, have not seen it at all. May I be better 
enabled, in the future, to walk more according to 
my profession !" 

In a letter for and of "the holidays" we 
have a lively picture of family scenes, and of 
the good cheer of the Sabbath-school: — 

"Philadelphia, January 11, 1853. 
; - 31 y dear Coz : — 

" Christmas and New Year's are over. The family, 
congregated at the old homestead to share in the 
usual festivities, have again sought their homes, 



66 louisa : 

and we are left to our usual avocations and daily 
duties. 

"Another year of opportunities and mercies, to 
us unmingled with chastisements, has numbered 
itself with the past, 'not gone to the grave/ but 
winged its flight with a record of misspent hours 
and abused privileges. * * * * We endeavour 
to grasp the passing moment, but it tarries not, — it 
has gone forever. Let us so strive to live, that these 
little units, which form ' the sum of our existence/ 
may not appear as witnesses against us at the last 
day. 

" The holidays passed most pleasantly with us, 
both abroad and at home. Our Sabbath-school- 
room, decorated gracefully with evergreens by the 
teachers, became the scene of many consultations : 
the nature and qualities of the gift to each scholar 
were discussed, and hymns composed and chanted 
to suit the occasion. * * * * At Christmas eve, 

the entire family grouped together at A 's, and 

round the evening board made mention, with grati- 
tude, of the kind care of Him who had preserved 
us all another year free from sickness and sorrow, 
and added another form, a tiny one, to our circle. 
After tea, the basket of presents for A— — and young 
ones was produced, — the inspection and admiration 
of which occupied us until we returned home to 
dream of the morrow. Before the break of day, 
'Merry Christmas I' was echoed from chamber to 
chamber, and the examination of the various Santa 
Claus budgets was made through the medium of 
another sense than that of sight. * * * * But 



a pastor's memorial. 67 



L and I escaped from the din, loaded with pre- 
sents for our respective classes, and, after a few 
minutes' walk, found ourselves among other happy 
faces, reciprocating the merry greetings on every 
side. As I received the warm embraces of my 
pupils and seated myself among them, I felt more 
than amply repaid for sacrifices made on their ac- 
count, and was only too happy in being called to 
labour as a Sabbath-school teacher. After services 
more than usually interesting, we returned again to 
home-scenes, where, at the Christmas meal, father 
and mother, quite patriarchal, sat down surrounded 
by ten adult children and a sufficient supply of 
grandchildren to promote intense excitement. * * 
" Your affectionate Coz, 

" Louisa." 

In a letter from New York, August 10, 1853, 
she thus describes a visit to the famous Crystal 
Palace, erected for' the World's Exhibition of 
Industry and Art, and which was utterly con- 
sumed by fire about a year after the exhibi- 
tion closed : — 

"My dear Sister: — 

"At seven-and-a-half o'clock we found ourselves 
a confused heap in the city of Gotham. Our young 
gallants procured me a carriage, which bore me to 
31st Street, while the others, after an exploring tour 
down town, were to call for me on their way to the 
Crystal Palace. I found myself vis-a-vis with my 



68 louisa : 

cousins just in time for a second breakfast; and after 
a comfortable rest and pleasant chat, George arriv- 
ing, we started at a round pace for the Great Exhi- 
bition. The Palace is certainly not very extensive, 
but it is so artfully arranged, with its naves, aisles, 
niches and galleries, that you are subject to an opti- 
cal illusion, and become ofttimes lost in its mazes and 
windings, which appear interminable. I was agree- 
ably surprised in finding the display so nearly com- 
pleted; and, if but one-third of the goods are un- 
packed, as some papers inform us, the other portions 
will not be likely to see the light this side of the 
waters; for their place is not to be found in the 
already well-filled building. The dome is the great 
architectural feature of the building, which, with the 
colossal equestrian statue of Washington beneath it, 
immediately rivets the attention. By-and-by you 
deign to cast your eyes on objects more lowly, and 
they meet the galleries of fairy structure, with their 
rich hangings, pictures, &c. ; and, more lowly still, 
you find, on the level with your feet, groups of the 
most perfect statuary from the Old World. Our 
party were Argus-eyed now, and soon became sepa- 
rated, in spite of all efforts to keep together. J 

and I would peep out of sunny France to spy Mrs. 

K deep in the mysteries of Denmark, Emily in 

the United States, and the rest in Austria. At last 
we all met by common consent in front of a group 
of statuary, by Thorwaldsen, representing our Saviour 
with his Disciples. It is one of the great attractions 
of the place. But the figure of the Eedeemer, almost 
colossal in its graceful proportions, did not altogether 



a pastor's memorial. 69 

please me. According to my humble views, the 
celebrated artist has too much contracted his fore- 
head. The noble, expansive brow of St. John was 
much more to my taste. But this is a matter of 
opinion ; and the whole affair is well worth an hour's 
study. Judas and his bag are left out, to make place 
for St. Paul in a conspicuous situation near his Mas- 
ter. The United States compares very favourably 
with other nations in every respect save in painting 
and statuary ; and, after examining deeply in its 
recesses, I thought America might well be proud of 
her illustrious child. " 

For the support of the Mission, as the dona- 
tions of friends were not sufficient, the ladies, 
in several successive years, held a fair in some 
prominent hall. One of these festive charities 
is thus graphically portrayed, under date of 
Sept. 28, 1854, to an absent sister : — 

"My dear Sister: — 

" The Fair now is in full operation at the Musical 
Fund Hall, which is elegantly decorated with ever- 
greens. Miss Gr nourishes at the upper end of 

the side opposite the doors, — having under her super- 
vision two tables, beautifully arched and connected 
by one of a different order from the rest, — from which 
is suspended a tasteful Chinese lamp. Bouquets of 
flowers here and there arise from the midst of , the 
laurel and fir, meath which hang luscious clusters 
of grapes, provided by Caroline and L P ; 



70 LOUISA : 

and above all is raised the splendid painted banner 
of the Third Eeformed Dutch Church Sabbath- 
school, with the guardian-angel of the little clinging 
child pointing to the words ' Of such is the king- 
dom of heaven/ If boards ever really groaned 
from the weight imposed upon them, 1 should ex- 
pect to hear loud cries of distress from our loaded 
tables. Elevated cakes and baskets, monster bou- 
quets, surrounded by a smaller fry of every descrip- 
tion, and all imaginable kinds of useful and fancy 
articles, attest the industry and ingenuity of the 
attendant ladies. 

"I merely describe our own arrangements, which 
will give you a fair idea of the others, — though no 
two tables are precisely alike, which has a pleasant 
effect upon beholders* and exhibits great variety of 
taste. 

" We have succeeded thus far beyond our expect- 
ations, — though we are compelled to be on hand from 
morning early till evening late, and then seek our 
couches, almost too weary to repose. I delegated 

my control to Mrs. K this morning, wishing to 

attend the great State Fair, held over the Schuylkill, 
at Powelton ; and, arriving home a half-hour before 
dinner, I thus have a few minutes of which to dis- 
pose whilst waiting for it. 

"This great State Fair — the first ever held in 
Philadelphia — covers twenty-five acres, and several 
hundred thousand persons from all parts of Penn- 
sylvania are now crowding into the city, presenting 
from their number and variety of appearance a 
most carnival-like scene across the river. Father, 



a pastor's memorial. 71 

Cad, Lizzie and I had a limb-wearying stroll over 
the grounds ; but you know my abiding motto is 
never to lose a chance of seeing any thing while 
nerves and sinews hold out." 

The young man whose death and funeral are 
described below was a general favourite in the 
Church, a devoted Christian, and full of promise 
for years of future usefulness. His aged father 
sacredly kept the vow which he uttered with 
such deep grief over the remains of his dear 
son. To all who knew him he was a " miracle 
of grace." He died in the fall of I860, having 
given good evidence for several years that he 
was born again. He always attributed his 
conversion to the sanctified influence of the 
death of his child; and in his old age, with 
great humility and prayerfulness, he gave the 
glory to God through Jesus Christ. This brief 
record, written amid the scenes of his lamented 
decease, will bring up some grateful memories 
in many minds that still cherish the young 
Christian's name : — 

" October 28, 1854. 
M My dear Sister: — 

"It is with deep regret that I open my letter with 
sad news, — the death of John C , who at noon 



72 louisa: 

this day crossed the threshold of his heavenly home. 
Our young friend and late fellow-labourer in our 
little Zion has fallen a victim to his untiring energy 
and perseverance. So far as I am cognizant of the 
circumstances, he neglected a slight cold, and, 
coming several weeks ago to the city for recreation, 
was seized with the illness that ended his days upon 
earth. According to the opinion of his medical 
adviser, both body and mind were worn out, — over- 
worked. We all know his desire of usefulness to 
his family and to the Church of Christ, and, though 
we may not understand the dispensation that re- 
moves one so eminently qualified in the midst of his 
labours, we are assured that what is our loss is gain 
to him ; and who can tell but that God may thus 
see fit to answer his many prayers for the salvation 
of his aged parent and worldly brother and sister ? 
Truljathe ways of Providence are mysterious. 

" He died at the house of his sister, and, as the 
weather was very inclement, we feared there would 
be but few to attend his remains to the grave ; but 
the church-people turned out in goodly numbers to 
mingle their tears for the loss of a standard-bearer 
in the army of the living God. The pastor spoke 
beautifully of the character of the deceased, and 
urged upon the young the necessity of a preparation 
for that destroyer who lays his hand alike on the 
youth in the vigour of his manhood, as on old age 
leaning on his staff. Then followed a most aifecting 
prayer for the irreligious members of the family, and 
for the church of which his young brother had been 
a member. Every one connected with our little 



A pastor's memorial. 73 

Zion must have uttered a hearty Amen to these 
fervent petitions for her welfare; and Lizzie and I 
felt, as we gazed upon the noble form at rest forever, 
that God had indeed blessed us in giving us this 
precious earnest of her usefulness. But who shall 
describe the anguish of the bereaved father as he 
kissed the cold brow, and exclaimed, in terms like 
the shepherd-king of Israel. ' Oh, Johnny ! my son ! 
my son ! Oh, my son ! my son V and then aloud 
dedicated himself to that God whom he had so long 
slighted? The bearers were Sunday-school teachers. " 



74 louisa : 



CHAPTEE VII. 

The year 1856 opened brightly upon Louisa 
and her happy home, but was soon heavily 
overcast. After a very brief illness, her mother 
died on the fourth day of March, at the age of 
sixty-two years. At the same time Louisa lay 
ill of a violent disease, which brought her to 
the verge of the grave, and from the effects of 
which she never entirely recovered. A few 
days afterwards, a lovely and precocious little 
nephew, her sister's child, followed his grand- 
mother into the eternal world. Next, one 
whom she calls " our sister-friend," a young 
lady to whom the family were much attached, 
lost her life by the burning of the steamboat 
"New Jersey" in the Delaware River, within a 
few yards of the dock. Following that hor- 
rible catastrophe, death again entered their 
dwelling, and a young girl, whom they were 
training as one of their domestics, after a short 
sickness passed away from earth. Four deaths 



a pastor's memorial. 75 

in less than 'five weeks, and herself slowly 
coming back from the gates of the grave ! 

How she bore these trials will appear from 
the subjoined correspondence. From this time 
we may date a new era in her history. The 
summit of the hill of life has been reached, and 
she begins to go down. Sometimes there will be 
a transient halt or a little turn in the road, and 
we shall see many a glorious landscape beyond. 
But, after all, it is a gradual and sure descent 
until she passes through "the dark valley' 7 
and then upward to " the everlasting hills. " 
During this whole period of about four years 
we shall find her the same cheerful spirit, 
" growing in grace and in the knowledge of 
our Lord Jesus Christ." Confined many 
months at a time to her home, she found a 
high relief in writing to her friends; and her 
Christian life, without egotism, but with a 
happy self-consciousness, is seen beaming 
through every profitable page. • 

The disease which had prostrated her at 
the time of her mother's death (erysipelas 
in the head) proved the forerunner of the con- 
sumption which finally laid her in the grave. 



76 louisa : 

With what fortitude, humility and growing 
spirituality she bore these years of painful dis- 
cipline, none can thoroughly know but they 
who saw her daily triumph over flesh and 
sense and spiritual temptations. As she was 
seldom long confined to her bed, she filled 
her place in the household with remarkable 
tenacity of purpose. Thus she stood in her 
lamented mother's place, the counsellor and 
head of the bereaved house, her father's com- 
forter, and her sisters' beloved guide and 
helper. But it is time again that she should 
speak for herself, and of the scenes in which 
her feeble and attenuated frame allowed her 
to move. 

These opening passages will go to the hearts 
of all who have buried a dear mother out of 
sight. And where is the mourner who will- 
not read them with quickened pulses ? 

" March 27, 1856. 

" Dear L : 

" I am gradually increasing in strength; but my 
hand feebly grasps the pen, and my head is confused, 
as memory traces the events of the last few weeks, 
so memorable, alas ! for us, for their record of sor- 
row, sickness and death. Oh, L , what a depth 



a pastor's memorial. 77 

of meaning there is in the word ' motherless' ! The 
cry of anguish that burst from the children as they 
grouped around their parent's dying-bed fully at- 
tested it. Oh, how I miss my mother's loving smile, 
— her watchful tenderness, her yearning solicitude 
for one her invalid child ! And then our devoted 
friend, — our almost sister. Oh, what a bitter bereave- 
ment again ! I do pray for resignation to bear this 
double loss, and endeavour to feel fully the abound- 
ing mercies of our heavenly Father, who spared to 
us our beloved mother so long, and then permitted 
her to leave so full an assurance of her trust in 
Christ and her fearlessness of the dark valley upon 
which she was just entering. Yes! blessed be God, 
we can never praise him enough for thus removing 
the terrors of death from our dying parent. 

" I suppose you have been informed of my extreme 
illness. For about a week I was on the verge of the 
grave, unconscious of the tears shed around my bed, 
and incoherently raving of my sudden bereavement, 
and then startling my nerves by some sudden flight 
of fancy. But it has pleased a kind Providence to 

restore me to health and reason, while poor S 

has been removed by a horrible death. Mysterious 
are the ways of Providence, indeed! The last time 
I saw her, I was scarcely conscious of the tearful 
kisses she lavished upon me and the broken ex- 
pressions of grief upon the loss of her ' second mo- 
ther.' My danger was over, and, with returning 
intellect, I began to inquire for my friends. At first 
they withheld the sad news from me, till, fearing 
that it might suddenly be revealed to me, they 



78 louisa: 

gradually informed me, but were startled at the 
effect produced. They told me I must not think 
about it ; I must dismiss it from my thoughts, else 
my shattered nerves might be seriously injured. 

And, dear L , you don't know how the poor 

weak head suffered, and the stricken heart endea- 
voured to be resigned to the Divine will. # * . * " 

"April 12, 1856. 
"Death has again entered our family, and borne 

away our darling little L . Only think! the 

gentle, affectionate bright boy, whom we loved to 
fold in our arms so fondly, — whom our beloved mo- 
ther loved so well, — has also gone! Poor H ! she 

has never known trouble, till a mother and son have 
been taken in less than five weeks. For nine hours 
the little sufferer struggled for breath, until relieved 
at three o'clock on Wednesday morning. He died 
of the same disease and at the same hour as our be- 
loved mother ; and their happy spirits are now sing- 
ing the song of the redeemed. In that far-off land 
of blessedness, where is no sorrow, nor sighing, 
neither tears to be wiped away, I see a little group. 
How the brain reeled and the heart-strings almost 
broke when they left us ! but now they are safely 
housed, and we hope one day to join them in our 
Saviour's home. As years pass over, the family 
above will become larger than that on earth ; the 
time will be short to the longest lived ; and oh, may 
not one be missing from the family-circle when Grod 
shall number up his jewels ! Pray for us, dear 



a pastor's memorial. 79 

L— — , that these repeated bereavements may be 
sanctified to those of the family who are out of 
Christ." 

"December 29, 1856. 

" Dear L : 

" I hope you all have had a happy Christmas, and 
that you are all in the enjoyment of health and 
spirits. You ask how have we spent the festive 
season, — whether happy or otherwise ? I could most 
heartily respond, ' Happily/ had it not been for 
the vacant places, — the missing ones at the board, — 
the shadow that rests upon the fireside. That sha- 
dow looms up more heavily and darkly, and we 
more bitterly feel the loss of the departed, on those 
occasions when we formerly spoke of our unbroken 
family and expressed our heartfelt gratitude to 
God, who for so many years preserved us to one 
another. But we are now an unbroken family no 
longer ! We shall follow one by one. — the circle on 
earth becoming less, while, we trust, the home in 
heaven will gather each to his rest as the light of 
earth fades from his vision." 

"Philadelphia, July 15, 1856. 

"My dear Corsix A : 

..-- * * ]£ Y own health, especially as regards the 
digestive organs, is very much better than it has been 
for years : but my nervous system is still impaired, 
and I am unable to take the long walks and active 
exercise so common before my illness. But how thank- 
ful we should be for even this measure of health ! 



80 louisa : 

Truly we have many blessings. The couch of lan- 
guishing is not our's ; and though we look for our 
mother's welcome smile, and listen for her footsteps, 
— which comes not, — yet we rejoice in the blessed 
assurance that our loss is her gain. Awaji then, with 
selfish longings for the dear form we never more 
shall see on earth ! Oh, the mystery of death ! One 
day in the midst of friends, loving and loved, — the 
next, a disembodied spirit, among untried scenes ! 
Oh, may my eyes and heart be closed to the siren 
voices of earth, and be fixed upon eternity, our 
heavenly home, our loving Father! 

" 18th. — Immediately after writing the above, I was 
violently attacked with cholera-morbus, which has 
so reduced me that I am only able now to finish 
this letter propped up with pillows. * * * 
Ct Ever your affectionate cousin, 

" Louise." 

With the new year came a brief respite, 
and she was enabled, with all her zeal, but with 
inadequate strength, to resume in part her 
duties in the church and in her loved Sabbath- 
school. 

The case referred to in the latter part of this 
letter was one of the most interesting, and 
in some respects the most peculiar, that ever 
came under the author's notice as a minister 
of the gospel. It is to be regretted that Louisa 



a pastor's memorial. 81 

did not leave on record a more detailed account 
of its subsequent history. The principal events 
have, however, been recently embodied in a 
small volume entitled "The Circus-Girl/' pub- 
lished by the American Sunday-School Union. 
The names are fictitious; but a literal report 
of the interviews held between the suffering 
woman and the kind friends who led her to 
Jesus would be even more striking than the 
interesting pages of the volume referred to. 
]N~ow that the sufferer and Louisa have both 
gone to their rest, there can be no impropriety 
in revealing the fact that this faithful disciple 
of Christ was the honoured instrument of 
bringing the wandering one to his cross. 

"January 26, 1857. 
"This leisure that God has given me, I feel, is not 
to be consumed upon self, even in the most inno- 
cent pursuits, when such a vast field of labour lies 
spread before me, — so that when duties are rendered 
in the family-circle I haste to meet the many and 
various calls of usefulness. At the present I am 
very busy in tracking out about a score of new Sab- 
bath-scholars and clothing them in suitable apparel 
for their appearance in school. By the way, our 
school is in a most flourishing state, and increases 
rapidly. We have a band of most faithful teachers, 



82 louisa : 

always in their places, notwithstanding snows, rain, 
or driving wind. This may especially be said of the 
ladies. And is it strange that they are so earnest and 
vigilant ? No. Look in upon them. Ten of them 
are clad in the habiliments of grief. All, save one, 
have been called to part with a beloved parent : the 
waters of affliction have rolled over and chastened 
their souls. They have felt the nearness of the king 
of terrors, and they are ardent and importunate, 
knowing that time is short. 

"I believe I must now tell you of a very interest- 
ing case under my notice. One of my Bible-class is a 
lovely girl of eighteen, and a most popular circus-rider 
in our city. An elder sister — likewise one — has been 
lately smitten by the fell destroyer Consumption, 
but for some time was buoyed up with a hope of re- 
covery, and then the helpless, hopeless invalid lay 
down to die, — without a thought of the eternity to 
which she was so rapidly tending. Hearing of it, I 
invited myself to visit her, and was coldly but po- 
litely received. Then another such invitation, and 
a warmer reception, — until now the poor invalid longs 
for my coming, and the bright eyes flash with un- 
wonted lustre at my appearance. By degrees she 
has been made to see her lost condition by nature ; 
but she cannot yet realize that God can forgive such 
a sinner. Every other afternoon finds me at her 
bedside, and to the reading and conversation she 
listens with agonizing earnestness. Perhaps she 
thinks it may be the last on earth ! I of ten do. So 
eager to accept the promises of mercy, she yet 
shrinks back as unworthy ; and one day, after read- 



A pastor's memorial. 83 

ing. as an example of faith, of the woman who 
touched the hem of our Saviour's garment., she cried 
out, 'Oh, Miss Gr., that is just what I feel. I stretch 
out my hand to touch him, and he passes by ! ; I 
am not able, as yet, to introduce our pastor to her 
notice, but I endeavour, as best I can, to set before 
her the rich promises of the gospel, the freeness 
of grace. — with many prayers that God will open 
the eyes of her understanding, that, ere she be called 
away, she may be able to exclaim, with Paul, ' I 
know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that 
he is able to keep that which I have committed unto 
him against that day.' " 

The hopes so ardently expressed were joy- 
fully fulfilled. About three weeks before her 
death, the author was called to see her. " Clouds 
and darkness were round about" her. Keenly 
alive to her state, looking death in the face, 
and tossed as upon a stormy sea of convictions 
and distresses, the poor young woman was the 
picture of sorrow. Gospel truth was just 
breaking upon her mind. Every thing was 
new to her. Taking up the Bible, which lay 
at her side, and pointing out some of its pre- 
cious promises, reference was at last made to 
the account of Closes lifting up the brazen ser- 
pent in the wilderness. She had never heard 



84 louisa: 

of it before ; and it is almost impossible to de- 
scribe in words the wonder and gladness which 
beamed from her face as she listened to the 
Old Testament story and the blessed Saviour's 
application of it to his own approaching cruci- 
fixion. (John iii. 14, 15, 16.) It was like the 
opening of a window in her soul, through 
which she received the precious light of the 
Sun of righteousness. Still, all was not clear, 
and we parted after a brief prayer, in which 
the invalid seemed to join with tearful sin- 
cerity. At our next interview, a few days 
after, all was bright. "Now/' said she, "I feel 
happy; for I have put all my trust in Jesus." 
This was her prevalent frame of mind until 
her end came. It was simple, beautiful faith 
in Christ as " all her salvation and all her de- 
sire." Her expressions of gratitude for having 
her eyes so opened by the Healer, and to those 
who had sought her when she was a poor, lost 
sinner, would have touched any heart. As 
her days and strength declined together, "the 
inner woman was renewed day by day." The 
last conflict was soon over. She died March 
20, 1857, aged twenty-five years. The funeral 



A PASTOR'S MEMORIAL. 85 

services occurred on the succeeding Sabbath. 
Seldom has a minister of the gospel an oppor- 
tunity to preach Christ crucified to an assem- 
bly such as filled that house of mourning. 
There sat the faithful women and a few Chris- 
tian friends who had led the departed one to 
Jesus and taught her the song of Moses and 
the Lamb; and there, too, were the bereaved 
family, who poured their blessings upon their 
heads. But the great mass of those who were 
there knew more of the evil world than of 
heaven, and cared more for the circus than for 
the cross of Jesus. The opportunity was em- 
braced to " preach the preaching" which God 
bade the pastor; and it is enough to add that 
he did not fail to warn and teach, and, as an 
ambassador for Christ, to beseech every one to 
be reconciled to God. 

The unusual nature of the circumstances 
must be the apology for this large digression, 
as well as the evident propriety of verifying an 
incident so prominent in the career of the sub- 
ject of this volume. Of the salvation of that 
precious soul, so far as we can see, she was the 
sanctified instrument. She literally sought the 



86 louisa : 

sick woman out, and pressed her suit with an 
earnestness which rose to the height of a 
sacred passion. She brought others to her 
help. She was faithful to the last, when they 
rejoiced together in the hopes and glories of 
the same eternal life, and now they are before 
the Throne, blessed forever! 

The fall and winter of 1857-8 will long be 
memorable for the financial panic which pros- 
trated the business interests of the whole coun- 
try, and for the distresses which it brought 
upon the poor. As the autumn advanced and 
the prospect grew more dreary, Louisa's chief 
thoughts were not for herself, but for the 
thronging thousands around her whose mise- 
ries she knew too well how to apprehend. 
Thousands of operatives were out of work. 
Families that had never known actual want 
were early pinched by its stern fingers. Our 
whole commercial system was shaken to its 
centre. The clouds were dark and heavy with 
greater storms. The rich trembled for their 
fortunes, and many lost them. But " the de- 
struction of the poor was their poverty," at 
such a time as this. A single paragraph from 



a pastor's memorial. 87 

her letters will reveal the spirit in which our 
friend and multitudes of like-minded people 
endeavoured to meet the charitable claims of 
the crisis : — 

"October 26, 1857. 
" My dear Cousix : — 

" I have taken up my pen this wild, stormy eve- 
ning to talk with you, and as I write the rain patters 
heavily on the window and the chill autumnal wind 
howls noisily around. In such boisterous times I 
always fear for the vessels on our coast, and espe- 
cially since those dreadful disasters which have 
shrouded in gloom so many happy firesides. My 
time is much engaged in societies, and this winter I 
expect to be more among the poor than ever be- 
fore; for there is a promise of fearful destitution 
among all our labouring classes, with far less means in 
the hands of the wealthy for aiding them. The very 
worst is feared, — even that hungry men will combine 
to set laws at defiance and obtain by force the food 
they canuot purchase. But the times are in the 
hands of the Lord. He sitteth on his throne, judg- 
ing right ; and the promise is sure to those that love 
him. that all things will work together for their 
good. This furnace seven times heated will purge 
the dross from many professors who have been living 
emphatically of 'the world/ and, like a fan in the 
reaper's hand, it will scatter the chaff from the true 
grain. ;; 



88 louisa : 



CHAPTEE VIII. 

The financial crisis was followed by "the 
times of refreshing" which niade the glory of 
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- 
dred and fifty-eight. To Louisa it was a year 
of repeated attacks of sickness, with intervals 
during which she was able to visit in the coun- 
try and to enjoy some of the spiritual privi- 
leges of that "year of grace." Disease was 
making ravages upon her frail tabernacle, but 
not less evidently was she growing in "meet- 
ness for the inheritance of the saints in light." 
To not a few readers there will be a high 
spiritual interest in the letters which follow, 
mingling, as they do, the feelings of one who 
was soon to be with Jesus, with descriptions 
of the powerful scenes of "the great awaken- 
ing." Eeviewing them at this distance of time, 
they seem almost like the utterances of some 
glorified spirit which might have left its home 



A PASTOR S MEMORIAL. 89 

of light to move amid the praying multitudes 
of the Pentecostal days. 

" Philadelphia, March 26, 1858. 
" My dear Cousin Annie : — 

"I cannot make, at this time, a 'press of business' 
an apology for not earlier answering your letter, see- 
ing that for weeks past I have literally done nothing 
but lie on the sofa or sit up to be waited upon, now 
and again slipping out on some errand to catch a re- 
newed cold, and then again prostrated on the sofa 
to repent at leisure. To explain more fully : I have 
had a cough, with pain in the side, &c, for some 
time, of which I thought but little; but not so those 
around me. Fears were aroused. * * * I be- 
came too indolent even to write to my dear cousin, 
but now, as indices of returning strength and health, 
one letter has just been despatched and this one 
commenced. Now, egotism, be off! This morning 
L left us, much to our regret. How many plea- 
sant hours we have passed together ! The pang occa- 
sioned by parting with dear friends always reminds 
me of that home where the blissful inhabitants 'go 
no more out/ May we all be united there, an un- 
broken family ! I do wish, my dear cousin, you and 
Cousin Dominie could look through my eyes at one 
of the wondrous prayer-meetings held daily at noon 
in this city. One is compelled to exclaim, as he sees 
the multitudes pour in quietly, and devoutly take 
their seats, 'What meaneth this?' Never before 
were such scenes witnessed ! We read of one Pente- 
costal day, when the vast numbers received the 



90 louisa: 

Holy Spirit, but now, day after day, the blessing is 
descending. When friend meets friend, the question 
is asked, 'Have you been to the prayer-meeting? 
You had better go: you will find it interesting/ 
Eeligion is the topic upon which all seem inclined 
to converse. Christians are awaking to their duties, 
and the Church is rising up like a giant from his 
slumbers. Unusual seriousness prevails in almost 
every congregation in this city, and in some large 
accessions have been made to the communion. A 
number in our own believe they have found Christ ; 
but I rejoice that the time for the admission of 
members to our church is two months distant. The 
applicants will have a breathing-period. That Church 
is in a sad state that has in its bosom many uncon- 
verted professors ; and I believe that much injury is 
done during seasons of revival by hurrying forward 
the young convert to a public profession. Truly this 
is a time when Christians should abound in prayer. 
I bless God that he has allowed me to see this day, 
but tremble at the fearful responsibility which rests 
upon his people. May they be endued with a sim- 
ple, childlike faith in their Master, and with hearts 
burning with zeal for his cause. * | * *. 

" Love to all from your affectionate cousin, 

"Louise." 

" Philadelphia, June 4, 1858. 

"My dear Cousin A : 

"How welcome are your letters to me, — grateful 
draughts from the gushing fountains of Christian 
sympathy and love! And if so precious is this 



a pastor's memorial. 91 

earthly interchange of thoughts and feelings, what 
will be the bliss when we are living at home, in our 
Father's mansion? For some weeks past, my dear 
cousin, I have seemed to approach its gates quite 
nearly ; the conducting angel, hovering over, almost 
touched me with his wings ; but now he is farther 
removed, and there is a prospect that I shall again 
be restored to health and vigour. But this prospect 
may be dissipated, as others have been. When I last 
wrote you, the term ' convalescent ' might have been 
applied to me; but shortly after a return of the 
worst symptoms again filled those around me with 
anxiety and sorrow. Ah, Annie, those around us are 
the ties that bind us earthward. Now my fever is re- 
moved and my strength greatly increased, and though 
pains in my chest and side, and a hacking cough, still 
continue, it is thought they will gradually decrease 
as summer advances. I pray that it may be so, that 
I may be enabled to live more for Christ's glory ; 
but, whatever be the issue, should the arrows of the 
destroyer encompass me about, I have a 'shield and 
buckler' which will ward them off. 

"Our city still continues to enjoy the outpouring 
of the Holy Spirit. What wonders of divine grace 
are wrought among us! Besides the noonday 
prayer-meetings in our large halls, of which you 
have already heard, there are fully a dozen of equal 
interest held in our largest fire-engine houses from 
five to six p.m. ; and numbers of that class of young 
men who, at times, have made our fair city hideous 
with their broils, have now determined to stand up for 
Jesus! Truly we are having a 'feast of fat things'! 



92 louisa: 

How I wish the Dominie and you could share it! 
Never before have I seen such wrestling in prayer, 
such laying hold on the promises! Then the full 
chorus of praise and the communion of saints! 
There was never any thing like it ! Next Sabbath is 
our own sacramental day, on which twenty-six in- 
tend professing their faith in Christ. You will rejoice 

with me as I tell you that my own dear sister L 

is one of that number, and that our prayers have been 
answered for the youngest of the flock. But there 
yet remains our only brother, — as far removed as 
though the broad Atlantic tossed its foaming billows 
between us, — who is still living for the world. Peti- 
tions unnumbered rise before the throne of grace 
for him, and gradually his letters assume a more 
serious turn. He remembers his infant prayers be- 
side his departed mother's knee, her dying testi- 
mony to the truths which she so early taught him, 
the counsels of a now hoary-headed father, and he 
feels as never before the holy influences of his boy- 
hood's home. Oh, we have faith, great faith, that 
he will ere long choose ' the better part/ * * * 
"Bemember me, ever, as your affectionate cousin, 

" LOUISE/' 

"August 14, 1858. 
" Two months ago, father told the girls that no 
human power could save me. The bilious fever 
came just in time to grasp me from the tomb to 
which I was fast hastening. I knew it all. I could 
not be deceived in the hollow cough which broke 
my rest, the inability to lie with my head as low as 



a pastor's memorial. 93 

usual and to enter into any conversation, the in- 
creasing weakness and fast-attenuating form. But 
* I knew whom I have believed ;' and not one doubt 
was allowed to disturb my trust in my Saviour. 

Truly, dear L , I have experienced the truth of 

the precious promises when the waters were round 
about me. But I must not encourage too much 
hope." 

" September 1, 1858. 
" My dear Cousin Annie : — 

" Were words as subtle as thoughts, and winged 
with the same lightning-flash, how often would you 
hear from your invalid cousin! When sleep has 
scorned my pillow, the weary head and worn-out 
frame have been soothed by the delightful conscious- 
ness of your sympathy and love. Truly, thanks- 
giving should be continually on my lips ! No fear or 
anxiety has been allowed to disturb my perfect 
peace ; and, when the shadows of death appeared to 
be gathering closely around, it was sweet to 'He 
passive' in the hands of my heavenly Father 'and 
know no will but his/ And then what a wealth of 
heartfelt kindness and devotion has been mine! 
When thousands are wasting away uncared for by 
friends, without a hope of heaven, what am I, that 
I should be thus ministered unto? And now, my 
dear cousin, there is a prospect of a longer lease of 
life being granted to me. Doctors disagree about 
my case, some declaring my lungs to be seriously 
affected, and others insisting upon the contrary. 
My uncle, a man of large practice and experience, 
belongs to the latter class, and, prescribing hearty 



94 louisa : 

diet and a free use of mountain air, is almost confi- 
dent that by the 1st of December I can return 
home entirely restored. One thing is certain: 
during my one month's absence from home my 
health has steadily improved. Many disagreeable 
symptoms have disappeared, and now my strength 
enables me to enjoy a moderate walk, and ascend a 
flight of stairs without panting at the top. But I 
must not be too hopeful, but leave the issue with 
Him who orders all things aright. * * * I am 
very pleasantly situated here among the mountains, 
surrounded by scenery the wildest and most beauti- 
ful you can conceive. Sometimes in my walks, when 
resting on a fallen tree, I seem to be in a mighty 
amphitheatre, the sloping sides of which my imagi- 
nation peoples with multitudes eagerly regarding 
some gladiatorial scene below. Or, again, I am in a 
vast temple, built by God himself, the walls the 
mighty mountains of living green, the dome the 
blue arch of heaven ! And are there worshippers in 
this sacred fane ? The insects softly hum, and the 
birds carol their songs of praise; nor are there want- 
ing, I trust, those of man, who, looking forth on this 
magnificent display of power, adore the great Archi- 
tect who has fashioned it." * * * 

The next letter is an outflowing of sympathy 
deep and refreshing, and so true to nature that 
only one who had felt the wound could so pour 
into a troubled heart the precious balm of 
Christian comfort. 



a pastor's memorial. 95 

"November 15, 1858. 
" My dear Cousin: — 

" After a long absence, I returned home a week 
since, and found your letter waiting my arrival. It 
was burdened with a loss the greatness of which 
none can conceive save those who have experienced 
it. Ah, I can sympathize with you, my dear cousin. 
We are both motherless. Now those dear parents, 
on whose bosoms we could lean in hours of pain and 
sorrow, have been called away, and none can fill 
their vacant places. No love can equal that of the 
mother, — unshaken and enduring while life lasts. 

"But, my dearest cousin, I trust you feel your 
Saviour's supporting arm in this hour of bereave- 
ment. He draws very near his suffering children, 
and, when they are crushed almost to the earth, 
gently raises them and imparts grace sufficient to 
sustain them. Oh, we have a kind and loving Father ! 
He will not leave us comfortless, but pours into 
our bleeding hearts abundant consolation. 

"You have doubtless heard that a few months 
ago I was again brought to the verge of the grave 
by a severe attack of illness. 

" After a lengthy sojourn among the mountains 
of my native State, my health is much improved, 
though not restored. Some symptoms remain, suffi- 
ciently serious to make the greatest care necessary ; 
and then it is thought that I may again rejoice in 
a complete restoration. This, as you perceive, is 
doubtful ; but, while thankful to a kind Providence 
for the measure of health now allotted me, I have 
no anxiety for the future. My heavenly Father 



96 louisa : 

knows what is best for me, — fulness of strength, pro- 
longed sickness; or, should he see fit to summon 
me soon, it can be surely no great grief to be called 
to take possession of my home above. 

" I am your affectionate cousin, 

" Louise." 

"November 22, 1858. 

"DearL : 

" My heavenly Father knows what situation is best 
suited for me, and has placed me in it ; and even 
here I can work for him. The noonday and twi- 
light prayer-meetings still continue with unabated 
interest. What times of refreshing these are ! Chris- 
tians are revived, and sinners brought to the foot of 
the cross. What encouragement we now have to 
' pray with faith, nothing doubting' ! The answer 
sometimes comes while the request still trembles on 

the lips. Oh, my dear L , let us never cease to 

pray while one unconverted relative or friend re- 
mains, — and not even then ; for, while a human 
brother lives a stranger to his Maker, we should 
supplicate for him the blessings of the gospel." 

"November 30, 1858. 
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended; but 
I trust I am safe, with many beloved ones,- — saved 
through the riches of grace." 

"December 31, 1858. 
" The noonday-meetings are increasing in inte- 
rest. How I wish you could enjoy them with us! 



a pastor's memorial. 97 

It is indeed a ' feast of fat things' ! The attend- 
ance is no larger, but, as the novelty has passed 
off, I think fewer go out of curiosity. The great 
mass appear to be either earnest Christians who 
are wrestling like Jacob for a blessing, or those 
anxious for their soul's salvation. There have been 
many conversions, striking answers to prayer and 
greatly encouraging to believers who might other- 
wise faint and grow weary. Oh that the many loved 
and dear ones around us might become subjects of 
divine grace ere another year shall have borne its 
record to eternity ! The booming cannons are an- 
nouncing the departure of the present year. The 
passage of different seasons, months and years, ap- 
pears to me like so many watch-towers, pointing 
mortals to the inevitable bourn to which they are 
hastening. 

"The year now dying has been one of much 
bodily pain and anguish to me ; but, thanks be to 
God, all has been peace within. "Fiery have been 
some of the trials through which I have passed ; but, 
as I look back, I would not that the furnace had 
been one degree less heated, for it has burned away 
much of the dross that was obscuring the brightness 
of the Christian character. 

"Your affectionate cousin, 

"Louise." 



9 



98 louisa : 



CHAPTBE IX. 

This chapter opens a new phase of the cha- 
racter and life of our departed friend. Lowly 
and self-denying as had been her efforts among 
the humble poor, their very situation in life 
removes many difficulties of religious influence, 
and invites the full play of all generous and 
sanctified powers for their temporal and ever- 
lasting welfare. It is comparatively easy for 
an intelligent and zealous Christian lady to sit 
down among the grateful objects of her care 
and tell them of a better life, a glorious Ee- 
deemer and a brighter world. The ground is 
often prepared for seed-sowing, if it- is not 
" already white unto the harvest/' Words of 
sympathy, with looks of kindness and hands 
full of blessing, will open the door of almost 
any needy soul, and the grateful welcome is 
ever followed by the true " Good-by" and ear- 
nest " Gome again," But it is not so easy to ap- 
proach the educated or the rich, or even those 



a pastor's memorial. 99 

who have entered on the race of worldly life. 
Most people also shrink from doing their per- 
sonal duty to unconverted relatives, — particu- 
larly in those cases where there is much intel- 
lectual pride, with strong anti-religious preju- 
dices and positive opposition to evangelical 
truth. No little moral courage — rather let us 
call it fidelity to Christ — is demanded, again, 
when the unbelieving friend or relative is much 
older, or of the sterner sex, and by the habits 
of long professional experience has been con- 
firmed in practical indifference. 

Louisa had a relative, a physician in a dis- 
tant city, for whose deliverance from unbelief 
she was inexpressibly anxious. They were 
tenderly attached to each other. He was at 
times her consulting physician. He was a 
man of good mind, of kind heart and other 
valuable traits. But he was not a believer in 
the gospel of her Lord and Saviour. This 
wrung her heart with a sorrow which taxed 
her ingenuity and courage to approach him 
aright. But her faith soon found an open door 
to his heart, and there she knocked and en- 
tered in. 



100 louisa : 

A correspondence grew up in 1858, in con- 
sequence of his medical attentions, in which 
she carefully threw out from time to time 
some passing religious thought, and which 
finally took the shape to be seen in these pages. 
At first it was but the closing sentence, " Please 
deal plainly with me : I would like to know the 
worst, as I am not afraid to die." In the next 
(December 7, 1&58) there is a reflection on the 
flight of time, and the strange indifference of 
any man u to the higher destiny to which he 
is called." Then she adds, "I am happy to 
add that the religious revival still continues 
here, and is rather on the increase. You 
termed it ' an epidemic/ May it go on, wax- 
ing in strength, until every nation shall feel its 
influence and become followers of the Lord! 
That you, dear uncle, and other relatives may 
become subjects of its power, is my earnest 
prayer : His the richest boon I can ask." 

It was not long before the religious element 
became the chief substance of this faithful 
correspondence. 

At this point it is proper to say that Louisa's 
letters were freely furnished by her relative 



a pastor's memorial. 101 

for such use as the author chose to make of 
them. The sequel will show that there is now 
a double reason for these excerpts. 

On the 6th of January, 1859, she sent him a 
copy of a little work entitled " Pentecost; or, 
The Work of God in Philadelphia, A.D. 1858," 
which was just from the press. This was ac- 
companied by the ensuing earnest appeal: — 

"January 6, 1859. 
" Dear Uncle : — 

" You know how interested I am in the daily 
prayer-meetings ; and, that you may understand 
their origin and progress, I take the liberty of send- 
ing you a work just published, hoping you will 
peruse it. For the sake of the love I bear you, dear 
uncle, read it without prejudice, and learn some of 
the many ways God takes to bring sinners unto him- 
self. Be assured there is a power in religion un- 
known to many professors who have only the name 
to live. Alas ! alas ! that it should be so ! Every 
hope and expectation unconnected with "the gos- 
pel economy is without foundation, and, like a rope 
of sand formed by tiny fingers on the ocean-strand, 
will be swept away forever by the rude billows of 
adversity. 

" Your affectionate niece, 

" Louise/' 

Those which follow need no special intro- 
ductions, except to say that the selected pass- 



102 louisa : 

ages occur amid pages of cheerful, familiar, 
conversational chit-chat, out of which they 
seem to spring as naturally as daisies in the 
grass. But each one indicates a new step for- 
ward to her great design, while all manifest 
that peculiar tact which few but a refined 
Christian woman can so readily employ. 
Quietly, but with a strong hand, she drew the 
threefold cord of argument, conscience and 
love tighter around the sturdy man. 

" January 24, 1859. 
" Dear Uncle : — 

" I inust thank you for your ready and kind com- 
pliance with my request to read the little volume 
sent you, — also for your loan of the same to Mrs. 

B ; and I trust that the perusal of it has given 

you different views of the work of grace in this city, 
from those you formerly entertained. 

" N is accommodating herself wonderfully to 

our quiet home-life, and appears well satisfied, not- 
withstanding your graphic descriptions of scenes 
among the like of which it has been her wont to 
mingle. You regret that she is missing them all ; 
but I rejoice that she is now afforded another phase 
of life, and that she can see that there is a happiness 
independent of questionable scenic representations 
or the midnight rout, — & happiness that knows 
naught of feverish preparations or the morrow's ill 
temper and jaded frame. 



a pastor's memorial. 103 

" Life is so real, so earnest, and withal so short for 
its one great purpose, that it is passing strange that 
heirs of immortality should so waste it ! What is 
there in these vapid amusements to ennoble the 
thoughts or satisfy the longings of the soul ? Truly, 
our's is but a short probation. With each passing 
breath we are nearer the tomb. Is it not, then, wise 
to spend it for the good of fellow-men and for the 

glory of Grod ? I think N is easily influenced 

for good or evil. How much we desire that she may 
become a useful and happy Christian, I cannot ex- 
press. 

" Your affectionate niece, 

" Louise." 

" February 7, 1859. 
"Dear Uncle : — 

" Though you have not asked me to write again, yet, 
judging from your ready and kind answers to my 
letters that they are not unacceptable, I again sit 
down to talk with you, imagining you in one large 
easy-chair in the office, and myself in another, 
catching inspiration from the glowing anthracite, as 
it cheerfully sparkles and flashes, paints its gro- 
tesque figures on the wall, and lights up the ceiling 
like a golden canopy above us. 

" In this tete-a-tete I have now the advantage of 
being able to say as much as I please and what most 
pleases me ; and I trust this liberty will be used with 
discretion. Our noon-meetings continue with un- 
abated interest, and my enjoyment of them is such 
as to induce the wish that all beloved ones could 
partake of the same pleasure. You speak of adoring 



104 louisa : 

the Creator in the open fields. Truly, he may be 
worshipped thus ; and none knows this better than 
the Christian. Whether he goes forth in the early 
morning, trampling upon the dew-drops that rival 
the gems in a monarch's diadem, or in the evening, 
with eyes uplifted to the starry firmament, — whether 
the season be summer, when the golden harvest is 
waving, or autumn, with its soft skies and gorgeous 
foliage, or yet winter, when its storms have shrouded 
earth with fleecy drapery and hung rocks and trees 
with crystal jewels. — he can see in them a loveliness 
and glory unknown to others, because he knows his 
Father made them all. 

" In wonder he exclaims, with the Psalmist, ' When 
I consider thy heavens, the work of thy ringers, the 
moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained, what 
is man, that thou art mindful of him, and the son of 
man, that thou visitest him?' (Ps. viii. 34.) And 
again, with gratitude for such abounding mercies, 
' Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts ; ye ministers of 
his, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his 
works in all places of his dominion : bless the Lord, 
my soul/ (Ps. ciii. 21, 22.) But more than such 
worship is required to make us acceptable with God. 
Thus, Cain's thanksgiving-offering of the fruits of the 
earth was not accepted, but not so the shed blood of 
Abel's lamb. The one was the offering of a self- 
righteous man ; the other, of a humble sinner who 
felt his need of an atonement. Dear uncle, you argue 
on false premises when you assert that the Christian 
necessarily must be gloomy. No, no ! you mistake it 
altogether. But you reason according to the natural 



a pastor's memorial. 105 

heart ; and that is deceitful above all things, and 
desperately wicked : ' Who can know it V (Jer. xvii. 
9.) Now, this heart, from its hardness, is said to be 
stony, (Ezek. xi. 19,) and must be changed into one 
of flesh, or, in other words, we must be born again, 
or we cannot see the kingdom of heaven. (John iii. 
3.) As children of fallen Adam, we are all subject 
to sin and the dreadful curse which rests upon it ; 
but natural religion tells us of no way by which we 
may escape from the awful penalty or ' flee from the 
wrath to come/ This we must learn from holy writ ; 
and what does it say ?**■*« God is a Spirit ; and 
they that worship him must worship him in spirit 
and in truth/ (John iv. 24.) ' Believe in the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved/ (Acts xvi. 31.) 
* Neither is salvation in any other : for there is none 
other name under heaven given among men whereby 
we must be saved/ (Acts iv. 12.) That faith may be 
given you, dear uncle, to apply these precious truths 
to your own soul, is the earnest prayer of your affec- 
tionate niece. 

" Louise." 

The following extract from the correspond- 
ence with her uncle was prophetic, and yet 
how triumphant ! It has no date. 

" I cannot but think, often, that blustering March 
or humid April will disturb the gentle spring flowers, 
and lay me beside my mother. 
'The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decay'd, 
Lets in new light, through chinks which time has made/ 



106 louisa : 

" I look not at death, nor the dark recesses of the 
grave, but upwards to my eternal home, where the 
longing soul shall be satisfied. It will be life — not 
death — to me then. 

" That you, dear uncle, may possess the same 
faith and trust when you approach the confines of 
eternity, is the prayer of your affectionate niece, 

" Louise. 

" Love to all." 

The sweeter flowers of May breathed their 
fragrance over Louisa's grave. A few months 
more rolled around, and very suddenly the 
beloved relative for whom she wrestled so 
earnestly in prayer, and to whom these letters 
were directed, was laid in the tomb. His 
peculiar views had undergone a manifest 
change since Louisa's death. That sad event 
took a strong hold upon him. He showed at 
least an outward respect for religious ordi- 
nances. Some expression dropped by him in- 
dicated a decided impression of eternal things, 
and to those who best knew him there was a 
hope in his end which they could not have felt 
before this faithful dealing with his soul by his 
pious niece. Thus, when an aged aunt said 
to him, (i Is Jesus precious to your soul 1" he 



A pastor's memorial. 107 

answered, " Yes." And so, we trust, were ful- 
filled the hope and the prayer of Louisa, who 
almost among her last sayings expressed her 
heartfelt assurance "that he would yet die a 
Christian." 



108 louisa : 



CHAPTEE X. 

We shall group in this chapter a few pages 
from the last year's letters of Louisa to her 
most intimate correspondents. No words of 
our's could so well portray the graces which 
adorned her Christian character, and the 
blessed preparation which she was daily re- 
ceiving for her great change. Yery little ex- 
cision or other amendment is needed to fit the 
touching story for the press; and, moreover, we 
wish others to see her as she was and as she 
talked and wrote. Her cheerfulness never 
fails. The strong will never yields without 
good reason. Her sympathies are all awake 
for every one and every thing she loved. But 
she never seems to lose her view of eternal 
things, or her hold upon the Saviour's cross. 
There is great moral sublimity in such faith, 
triumphing over sense and earth, with the 
"full assurance of hope unto the end," — no 



a pastor's memorial. 109 

earthly love blunted, no heavenly desire re- 
pressed, but the whole soul in " patient waiting 
for Christ/' 

"Philadelphia, May 11, 1859. 

"My dear Cousin A : 

"I sit down to write you with a very tender 
conscience, arising from the fact that, whilst de- 
laying an answer to your letter of last month, 
another kind one arrived without even hinting at 
the delinquency. Now, not being partial to a heated 
head, I haste to throw off ' the coals of fire/ by re- 
plying immediately. I regret to learn of L 's 

sickness, and rejoice, at the same time, that she has 
so nearly recovered. To be able to sympathize with 
the afflicted is, perhaps, not one of the least lessons 
taught me by continued ill health. Mr. T men- 
tioned to us last Sabbath that he had seen your 
good husband, and told him I was better. Is it so ? 
Many around me profess to think it ; my own family 
try hard to believe the same, and I rejoice if they 
are thus comforted ; but to me there is no decided 
improvement. It is argued, and perhaps with rea- 
son, that my passing through the spring without 
being any worse is in itself favourable. Be this as 
it may, my dear cousin, I give myself no uneasiness, 
but cast all the burden upon One who bears it for 
me and comforts me with the assurance that all will 
be well with me both here and in eternity. Thanks 
be to God that he brought me to himself before the 
hours of languishing fastened themselves upon me! 
10 



110 louisa : 

What should I now do without heavenly consolation 
and support ? * * * Love to all, * * * and believe 
me, ever, 

"Your most affectionate cousin, 

" Louise." 

" Philadelphia, December 12, 1859. 

" My dear Cousin A : 

" Let me give you, in beginning, my text for 
to-day : — ' Bear ye one another's burdens, and so 
fulfil the law of Christ/ Alas ! how far short of the 
command do I come !'<*** You say truly that 
there seemed no time, during your recent visit, to 
converse about our ' inner life f and I do not think 
I told you of the great comfort I derived from a 
passage of Scripture on my homeward journey from 
Schoharie. Suffering from severe physical exhaus- 
tion and mental depression, arising from my belief 
that 1 was looking upon loved faces for the last time 
on earth, I was scarcely able to get into the carriage, 
or even to speak. How could I endure the travel ? 
I looked upward for help, and then came the sweet 
passage, .'My presence shall go with thee, and I 
will give thee rest/ My dearest cousin, could any 
thing have been more appropriate and beautiful ? 1 
quickly hugged it to my heart ; for it was rest, rest, 
that I was panting for. What did I need more, than 
my Father's presence in my journey, and rest at the 
end of it? Rest! Was it to be in my earthly or hea- 
venly home ? I cared but little, — leaving it all to Him 
who had offered and promised so much. And, oh, 
how wonderfully he upheld my drooping form, and 



a pastor's memorial. Ill 

placed me at last, like a weary child, upon my couch 
to rest ! You have, doubtless, heard through Cousin 

C that my health has been gradually mending 

for some past weeks; but, though the family entertain 
strong hopes that this state of things will continue, 
I am not at all sanguine. My cough is very much 
relieved, and expectoration reduced ; the voice has 
grown stronger, and a small amount of flesh and 
strength has been added to my physique; but I am 
nothing but a poor invalid at best, that is kept from 
day to day until my Master is ready for me. I de- 
sire ' to lie passive in his hands, and know no will 
but his/ 

* The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decay'd, 
Lets in new light, through chinks which time has made.' 

I rejoice that you daily remember me at the throne 
of grace. Ever pray that I may feel my Saviour's 
presence. Give my love to all the good folks in- 
terested in me. Write soon, and believe me, ever, 
" Your affectionate cousin, . 

" Louise." 

"Philadelphia, January 27, 1860. 

"My dear Cousin A : 

«* * * jy[y health continues about the same as 
when last I wrote. Some days, feeling much better 
than on others, I am almost inclined to think my 
recovery probable ; but the illusion never lasts long. 
How happy I am not to be dependent on such fal- 
lacious hopes for my comfort and happiness ! My 
mind is kept in perfect peace, — so perfect, that, when 



112 louisa : 

Satan has endeavoured to tempt me with the thought 
that I was presumptuous in my comfortable hope, I 
have been led to look at Jesus and thus defeat the 
designs of the great enemy. Oh that we could 
walk more nearly to our Saviour ! Our poor bodies 
clog our few heavenward tendencies ; but soon our 
eyes shall behold the ' King in his beauty/ and then 
shall we ever enjoy his presence. This I am likely 
to do sooner than you, my dear cousin. I feel my- 
self as it were living on the verge of a precipice, 
where the slightest misstep would destroy life. Pray, 
dear Annie, that, when the summons come, I may 
be found watching. The family are all well, and 
send love to you and (Dominie) &c. Write soon to 
your affectionate cousin, 

" Louise." 

"Philadelphia, February 24, 1860. 
"My dearest Cousin: — 

" I know not how it is, but I feel, as do you, that I 
shall see you again on earth. I try as much as pos- 
sible to hold the world and its affections lightly, 
that my heart may become more fixed upon the in- 
terests of my future home. At no distant period, 
my journey thither must be taken, and the long 
' good-byes' to the dear ones given ; but, thanks be 
unto God, no fears of death or the grave are allowed 
to disturb my peace. Daily pray for me, that I may 
constantly feel my Saviour's presence." 

" Philadelphia, March 9, 1860. 
"Nine days in the spring,— that season that cuts 
down the poor consumptives that have been drag- 



a pastor's memorial. 113 

ging through months of languishing ! Last week no 
less than six of whom we have a knowledge were 
called away. Eegarding myself, I am somewhat 
more feeble during the past fortnight, and I feel 
emphatically that I am a pilgrim who tarries for the 
night. I endeavour to fix my thoughts as much as 
possible on my heavenly home, and wonder when 
I shall see its pearly gates. But then again come in 
cares to distract my thoughts and grovel them in 
the dust. Ever keep me in your prayers, that I 
may be sustained. I do hope you may be able to get 
up a prayer-meeting, however small. It may be the 
germ of one that may call down Heaven's richest 
blessings. At all events, God will certainly smile on 
the effort, and good will result, though you may not 
know it till you rest from your labours." 

"Philadelphia, April 11, 1860. 
" The spring thus far has been unpleasant, and I 
have been confined to the house much of the time, 
and my health has been more feeble in consequence, 
and still think it is hardly probable I shall live 
through the spring. I look forward much to my 
heavenly home, — the glories of which eye hath not 
seen, nor ear heard ; and what is commonly deno- 
minated ' death' seems to me the joyful entrance 
into life. And, oh, what a life ! I shall soon get 
home, and there, in steady succession, will come one 
and another of the lovers of Jesus, till we are all 
joined, I trust, an unbroken band, in the heaven of 

rest." 

10* 



114 louisa: 

"Philadelphia, April 25, 1860. 
"My dear Cousin Annie: — 

"I sit down this evening with some effort to fulfil 

the promise made you through Cousin C . My 

health has been very feeble all spring, and for the 
past month I have suffered much from aching teeth. 
Eendered desperate at last by the almost constant 
recurrence of the attacks, I nerved myself to the 
cold steel. Unable, from my disease, to avail my- 
self of the comforts of ether, I tried a galvanic 
dentist, and sat down, relieved somewhat of dire 
anticipations ; but such was the tenacity of my two 
ruthless tormentors for their old home that they 
would not be ejected until I passed through great 
and prolonged anguish. This utterly prostrated me; 
and, though a week ago, I am just beginning again 
to rally, and my lacerated gums still compel me to 
masticate like the squirrels. "Dear Annie, I fear I 
thought too much of the bitterness of this drop in 
my cup, but endeavoured to crush the rebellious 
feelings, knowing that my heavenly Father would 
not impose one unneeded chastening stroke. Oh, 
how much of the dross is still to be burned away 
before I can reflect the slightest shadow of my 
Saviour's image ! Utterly vile and worthless, I 
can but cling to the cross ; and that will take me 
home." 

" Philadelphia, May 5, 1860. 
"I am looking forward daily to my journey home. 
The Lord make me patient to endure without mur- 



a pastor's memorial. 115 

muring his will ! Oh that I possessed something 
of St. Paul's faith ! — then I would gladly rejoice in 
my sufferings, that Christ's own power might rest 

upon me. Dear L , bear me up constantly at 

the throne of grace. I need all your prayers." 



116 LOUISA. 



CHAPTEE XL 

For a long time before her departure, Louisa 
had kept a private diary, in which she noted 
the events of the day in her little circle, and also 
the ebb and flow of her religious experiences. 
In these pages are many things which none but 
loving eyes should see. But we find there the 
same* easy flow of changeful thought, the same 
ready expression and fervid glow of feeling, 
, which marked her familiar correspondence. 
It seems to have been kept, certainly not with 
an eye to posthumous publication, but rather 
as a means of spiritual profit to her own soul. 
Notes of sermons which she heard, references 
to the noon and other prayer-meetings, reflec- 
tions on the text which, according to her habit, 
she selected for her " daily food," suggestions 
personal to herself, her faults, her hopes, her 
trials, with whatever else she felt worthy of 
preservation and review, abound in these trea- 
sured leaves. The selection of texts was fully 



a pastor's memorial. 117 

indicative of her state of mind on each day. 
She says of it, "I select a text each day, on 
which to ponder. It is a good habit, and many 
valuable gems are thus treasured up in my 
mind which might otherwise be lost. Text for 
to-day, (January 1, I860,) 'For the Lord is 
faithful, who will establish you and keep you 
from evil/" At another time, as a corrective 
to what she feared was just then a growing 
tendency, for which she sternly chided herself, 
she took this passage: — "Forbearing one an- 
other, forgiving one another/' and then she 
adds, "I am happy to remember that several 
times to-day this text kept me silent when 
otherwise I should have spoken reproof." One 
day, when "sorely oppressed" by u cough and 
fever," this was her consolation : — "Tea, I have 
loved thee with an everlasting love ; therefore 
with loving kindness have I drawn thee." 
" How delightful to think that ■ I can apply 
this passage in all its fulness ! Surely I should 
never have sought my Saviour had he not 
drawn me; and poor and wandering though I 
be, ungrateful as the most murmuring Israelite, 
still he holds me by the hand." Here, again, 



118 louisa: 

is a subduing entry: — " And whatsoever ye do, 
in word or deed, do all in the name of the 
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the 
Father by him." « This day (March 4, 1860) 
four years ago, I lost my beloved mother. Ah, 
how well I remember it ! it is as yesterday ! 
But four years is or must be still shorter in 
heaven than on earth. The glorified saints 
can take no note of time. When shall I be 
there ?" 

With such " comfortable words of Scripture" 
did the ripening believer cheer her daily pil- 
grimage. She neared the heavenly land : its 
fragrant zephyrs inspired her with new joys 
and with stronger faith. That question, " When 
shall I be there ?" was the key-note of almost 
every song and wish and prayer and record. 
Witness these last passages from her diary, 
which have been transcribed by hands that 
were often clasped in her's : — 

" Jan. 1st, I860.— This is the holy Sabbath of the 
first of 1860. Last night I prayed in the New Year 
and dedicated myself anew to God. It is not pro- 
bable I shall ever see another: if not, oh, what shall 
I not gain by the exchange of homes ! Heavenly 
Father, my trust is in thee wholly ! Give to me an 



A pastor's memorial. 119 

unwavering confidence in thee, and destroy my 
earth-born tendencies. Thou knowest my besetting 
sins. Grant to thy poor, suffering child patience 
and sweetness of temper, that she may become more 
like Christ. Merge all my will into thine own, and 
keep me pure and unspotted from the world." 

"Jan. Zl&t. — I think I never before comprehended 
so fully the great love manifested in the many afflic- 
tions laid on God's people. He literally breaks up 
their homes and inspires them with the desire of 
better ones. But he does not leave them in their 
sorrow, but hovers over them ready to assist them. 
As long as the eagle keeps to its native cliffs and 
towers near the sun, he is safe against the shafts of 
his enemies. He only becomes a prey when, forget- 
ting his heaven-born tendencies, he descends to the 
earth. Just so it is with poor man : if he only cast 
the things of earth behind and walked trustingly with 
his Saviour, he would be subject to much less tempta- 
tion." 

"Feb. 1th. — I have felt so wretchedly to-day that 
eternity seems very near, very near indeed. I do 
not feel any uneasiness about my situation, because 
my sole confidence is placed on the merits of my 
Redeemer. If my salvation depended on any work 
of my own, I should despair ; but, oh, the merciful 
provisions of the gospel ! — how full ! how free ! Life 
is sweet to me, but I am perfectly willing to lie pas- 
sive in his hands; for he will give me grace. Oh 
for rest in the bosom of my Saviour! then will the 
longing soul be satisfied." 

"March 11th. — lam another Sabbath morning at 



120 louisa : 

home, as the weather is so truly March that it injures 
me to go out. Last Tuesday was made my last essay 
at attempting it, and I am now satisfied that while 
this weather prevails I am better within-doors. I 
am perfectly satisfied, — indeed, should be most un- 
grateful to be otherwise,- surrounded as I am with 
every comfort and luxury, and, more than all, sus- 
tained by the hope that ere long, or whenever it 
shall please my heavenly Father to call me, I shall 
enter upon the rest prepared for me. Prepared for 
me! this seems too much for me to believe! and, 
were it not that my dear Saviour himself uttered the 
words, I would scarcely dare to do so. Oh, what 
kindness and love ! I cannot understand so much 
loving kindness to such miserable sinners. I have 
had communion with my Lord this morning, so am 
not alone, though the others are all away. Have 
been very wretched indeed during last week, and 
am evidently weaker. But the worst of all is, that 
I have allowed petulance and impatience to triumph 
over my better feelings, and, I fear, made those so 
kind to me uncomfortable. Heavenly Father, keep 
me from these besetting sins, for thy mercy's sake ! 
Let me not sin thus so often, lest I become a stum- 
bling-block. Text, ' Behold, I come quickly: hold 
fast that which thou hast, lest any man take thy 
crown/ This seems very applicable to me, for it is 
most likely that I shall indeed be called quickly. 
Dear Saviour, help me to hold fast the little faith, 
hope and love I possess, that I may not lose my 



crown 



!» 



" April 22d. — I must be near home; for it is with 



A pastor's memorial. 121 

great difficulty I can guide my pen to make an entry 
in this book. Oh, I am very feeble, — hardly able to 
move about or help myself. I endeavour to shake 
myself loose from the cares of earth and fix them on 
the Saviour. Yes, blessed Jesus, I cling to the cross 
and feel secure." 

She made but one more entry in her diary, 
throughout which the same devotional feeling 
prevails. Her feebleness increased very rapidly 
at this time, so that she was carried from 
room to room; but as the outer man was thus 
rapidly decaying, the inner man was renewed 
day by day. 



11 



122 louisa: 



CHAPTEE XII. 

Beautiful above all that is of earth is the 
last glimpse we catch of the believer at the 
end of the life-pilgrimage, just as the Good 
Shepherd is leading the happy soul down to 
the shore of the cold river. Then, if ever, 
with rare exceptions, the child of faith and 
of the skies enjoys the perfect calm, if not 
the exulting rapture, of assured trust in God 
the Saviour. The apprehension expressed by 
Louisa, that she "would be called quickly," 
was literally fulfilled. A few days previously 
her pastor saw her, as she usually appeared, 
frail as u a reed shaken by the wind/' but full 
of natural vivacity mingled with spiritual 
calm. Again he saw her half reclining on her 
couch, where she was accustomed to rest for 
two or three hours each day. At one side of 
her, on the bed, lay her well-worn Bible, with 
a small practical religious book, with which 



a pastor's memorial. 123 

she had been beguiling the weary hours. At 
her right hand, on a chair by the bedside, was 
a jar containing some fresh spring flowers, 
whose fragrance filled the shaded room. First 
she would talk of the purple lilacs with cha- 
racteristic enthusiasm, and then of the little 
book, and then of the book! Each sentence 
was full of gladsome piety, — the precious les- 
sons she learned from both bright pages of her 
heavenly Father's works, between which she 
lay, enduring his blessed will. It was plain 
that she could not last very long, and that 
she was equally ready then or afterwards to 
go hence. Her sympathies were peculiarly 
aroused in behalf of another young member 
of the church, who was as near her end as 
she, and a greater sufferer with the same fell 
disease. Indeed, she seemed more anxious for 
this friend than for herself, — a feeling that was 
increased by the fact that her father was the 
physician of botlj. But there was a stronger 
tie than this. They had been long and early 
friends, knit together by the heavy hand of 
previous and varied affliction. Amid scenes of 
unusual sorrow, Louisa had been a ministering 



124 Louisa: 

spirit to the smitten family of her fellow- 
sufferer. Her young friend was a stranger to 
the grace which comforted herself; but at last 
she too was " brought to Jesus/' and that by 
the instrumentality of those whom Louisa 
loved. She did " what she could" for her, and 
when unable to see her she ceased not to pray 
for her. It was the privilege of the author to 
minister often at the side of this poor invalid, 
endeavouring, with prayer and " comfort of 
the Scriptures," to instruct her in the know- 
ledge of Jesus Christ. She became a Christian 
only after long conflict of soul. A short time 
before she died, she united with the Church, 
having witnessed a good confession of her 
faith. 

It was a touching scene. The pale, worn- 
out invalid sat in her easy-chair calm and joy- 
ful, while all around her were in tears. Her 
voice had long fallen to a whisper, yet she 
tried to join our songs, and ggve answer to the 
solemn questions which contained her confes- 
sion of Christ, with the emphasis of one who 
knew that she must soon appear before the 
great white throne. It was like a baptism 



A pastor's memorial. 125 

in Jordan, with the better land in full view. 
Prom that time both of our sufferers went as it 
were abreast to their heavenly home, — know- 
ing that if they " suffered with Christ they 
should also reign with him." It was wonder- 
ful grace that sustained them while they 
waited for their Lord. There was a majesty 
and a meekness in their common faith, and 
"they overcame by the blood of the Lamb 
and by the word of their testimony." The 
younger Christian first crossed the flood. 
Gently, irresistibly, most graciously, did the 
Holy Spirit lead her and show to her unhesi- 
tating faith that she was a child of God. At 
her own desire, the voice of Christian song 
cheered her departure. Her Saviour's pre- 
sence illumined the once dark valley, and so 
she went fearlessly down and thence into the 
everlasting daylight that streamed through its 
farther end. 

And when she had reached her home, the 
shining angels came back to take her friend 
Two days afterwards, Louisa died. Long as 
she had suffered, the summons came with 
almost startling suddenness. She never was 
11* 



126 louisa: 

confined to her bed until the last day of her 
life : her strong will kept her up when others 
would have been helpless on their beds. But 
she was "watching" daily, and ready for the 
Master's call. Calm in spirit, clear in mind, 
knowing what was before her and rejoicing in 
Jesus, death could not take her by surprise. 

The closing scene needs no embellishment. 
It is best told by the few lines in which a 
beloved sister has truthfully described "the joy 
unspeakable and full of glory" with which she 
entered heaven : — 

" On Tuesday last, on entering the room, she said 
to me, ' I am almost home ; but my Saviour is lead- 
ing me by the hand. Put on the monument, under 
my name, "I know whom I have believed/ 7 I select 
that passage because it is so expressive of my full 
assurance/ She continued repeating at intervals, 
her physical pain being intense, ' My Saviour is with 
me ; I feel as though I could leap into heaven. Oh 
for the hour of release ! but I must wait patiently 
my allotted time ; not one stroke is laid upon me 
that I could be spared V About midnight, it was 
evident to all around her that the hour of her de- 
parture was at hand. She then exclaimed, though 
struggling in the agony of death, * I see the pearly 
gates of heaven opened for my reception, but my 
Saviour is on this side Jordan, guiding me by the 



A pastor's memorial. 127 

hand ! He will not suffer me to pass alone through 
its deep waters! u O grave, where is thy victory? 
death, where is thy sting V Think of me not as 
being shut up in the grave, but as a rejoicing spirit 
in heaven/ The last words she uttered were, * Come, 
Lord Jesus, come quickly V and then sunk into the 
arms of death and yielded up her spirit, without an- 
other struggle, into the hands of her Saviour and 
her God." 

On the third day after her death — Saturday 
afternoon, May 19, 1860 — the remains of our 
friend were committed to the tomb in the 
tt Woodlands" Cemetery, beside the grave of 
the mother whom she loved so much. It was 
a scene of mournful beauty when we laid her 
in the narrow house. The flowers of May 
bloomed all around, tall forest-trees cast 
deep long shadows from their heavy crowns 
upon the greensward and the marble memo- 
rials of the many dead, and just down the 
slope the Schuylkill swept with graceful curve 
and rippling swell, while the evening sun suf- 
fused the whole landscape with its mellow, de- 
parting light. It was a fit time and place, — 
that last bright sunset of the sad week, and 
that quiet spot where the song of birds, and 



128 louisa : 

the murmur of the trees, and the gentle voices 
of the river, and the rest of the coming Sab- 
bath, and the precious dust that lay sleeping 
all around, — nay, every association, — brought 
eternity, and the heavenly paradise, to the 
solemn heart. 

The next day was the Sabbath, and the 
pastor could not but tell his people anew of the 
bereaving providences and the Christian vic- 
tories and the funeral scenes of the preceding 
week. That Sabbath morning will be remem- 
bered for the sympathies that flowed from 
many tearful eyes, and for the impressive tes- 
timonies which were brought from the death- 
beds of these two communicants who were 
spending their Sabbath in the presence of God 
and the Lamb. The whole atmosphere of the 
house of God seemed fragrant with heavenly 
incense, and irradiated by light from "the 
shining shore." 

Sometimes we talk of "'the night of the 
grave;" and, like children in the dark, we are 
apt to conjure up "the horrors and chimeras 
dire" with which superstitious fear peoples its 
gloom. But the resting-place of God's dear 



pastor's memorial. 129 

saint should never be called a dark and dreary- 
place. Even the early Christians who dwelt 
and died in the Catacombs of Eome used to 
inscribe upon the slabs which sealed their 
vaults, "He sleeps in peace/' There w r as no 
terror in that night to the martyrs and con- 
fessors of the olden time. And so Louisa felt. 
One of her relatives has presented this feature 
of her experience in this striking light : — 

"I have thought very, very often of one of our 
conversations together last summer. We were en- 
joying an interchange of ideas and feelings in regard 
to the heavenly state ; and in speaking of a sermon 
I had heard the night previous, upon the text, 
'And there shall be no night there/ she said 
that was an element of bliss in heaven which she 
could not understand. I asked her why. Her 
answer was to this effect: — 'Night, with its darkness 
and repose, is such an inexpressible relief to me here, 
that I cannot understand how a continual day 
would conduce to my happiness. When night comes, 
my weary, suffering frame is exhausted, and I hail 
its approach as one of the greatest of earth's bless- 
ings/ Ah ! she now understands and realizes the 
bliss of an eternal day. Her ransomed spirit never 
tires of the bright sunshine of her Saviour's pre- 
sence/' 

It will be unnecessary for those who have 



130 louisa : 

followed us through these pages to sum up the 
many excellent traits of this now glorified cha- 
racter. It speaks for itself, with the same 
graceful ease with which she blended Christian 
thought and feeling with every subject of inti- 
mate conversation or correspondence. Her 
short-comings, her faults, her sins, caused her 
more grief than they attracted the notice of 
observers. Her graces brightened in the fur- 
nace, at whose hottest fires she murmured not. 
The highest ecstasy of her dying rapture was 
but the upward flaming of a redeemed sinner's 
faith, u to the praise of the glory of his grace, 
wherein he hath made us accepted in the be- 
loved : in whom we have redemption through 
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to 
the riches of his grace." (Eph. i. 6, 7.) 

The accompanying lines, embodying some of 
her dying expressions, and written by a gifted 
mourner, may most appropriately conclude 
this pastoral memorial of one who lived so well 
that she is indeed missed from the Church on 
earth. 



a pastor's memorial. 131 

OF 

MISS LOUISA GEBHARD. 



1 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." 

Day by day we watch' d our sister, 

As to heaven she nearer drew ; 
Day by day we trembling waited, 

Till she faded from our view, — 
Till the cry arose at midnight, 

Heard so oft with sore dismay : 
Joyfully our sister listened, 

Smiled, and soar'd to endless day. 

Yet a while ere she departed 

We were bless' d with words of cheer, 
Comforting the broken-hearted 

Who were left to sojourn here. 
Mourn not for the weary pilgrim 

Who so soon will be at home : 
Here on earth I would not linger ; 

Blessed Jesus ! quickly come ! 

Heaven's bright gates I see unfolded, 
And the Lamb himself draws near : 

He with me will cross the river, 
And with him I cannot fear. 



132 LOUISA. 

Plant bright flowers where I am sleeping ; 

Cherish no sad thought for me ; 
Visit not my grave with weeping, 

But rejoice that I am free. 

Thanks and praise to God we render 

For his gift so kindly given ; 
Thanks and praise with higher rapture, 

For the ransomed saint in heaven ! 
Though the light has left our dwelling, 

We through all thy love would see : 
May this loss that mars our fireside 

Draw us nearer, Lord, to thee. 

Ah ! we knew her days were number'd, 

And the spoiler waited nigh, 
Ever grew her step more feeble, 

Languid was her sparkling eye : 
Now, on wings of seraph soaring, 

Cumber'd not with mortal clay, 
She beholds the King in beauty, 

She will reign with Christ alway ! 



THE END. *V 




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